Use Your Voice

It feels like sometimes whatever platform I have isn’t big enough to make a real difference. Ever feel that way? I think that the pull and allure of just staying quiet, doing life, going from one task or experience or whatever to the next is strong, especially when there is SO MUCH happening. I’ve noticed that I get really wrapped up in the enormity of the mess, it ungrounds me, and then I can’t decide where to apply myself to try and be part of the changes that clearly need to happen in my community and in my country. It doesn’t help that I get 10-12 emails and texts a day asking for money to support totally worthy causes. I get it, but the inundation of ideology and urgency and the importance of it all is just a lot. So…anxiety, here I come!

The thing is, I - and you, and we - don’t have to try and solve everything. We don’t have to donate to every cause, repost every piece of information; we don’t have to watch every minute of news and track every poll or disaster or virus count. Really, we can’t if we want to stay sane. Attention, willpower, calm, and especially patience are finite resources. I spend a lot of time helping athletes figure out how to manage their expectations and how to identify, and then give those resources to, the things that are within the scope of their control and that provide the highest leverage in accomplishing a goal or, in this case, using what may be a small platform to effect the maximum change.

Why? The point is that what works for me is to a) take some intentionally deep breaths, and then b) objectively look at what’s in front of me, each time, and decide if it’s something for which I have the personal resources to spare. Let me be very clear with you now, because there’s a lot out there that will tell you that this isn’t true: Consciously, ethically, compassionately choosing where to apply yourself - and where to not apply yourself - DOES NOT make you selfish, inadequate, or disappointing. It makes you better equipped to do good work and to apply what you have to the places that matter most to you. Those places might be out in the world; they might be in your family, or inside you.

So:

Step 1 is to get as calm as you can.

Step 2 is to ask yourself “what do I need right now?” and really listen to the answer.

Step 3, check in with yourself to see what kind of personal resources you have available for those things that you need, and then

Step 4, for things in the world.

Step 5, choose.

Step 6, devote what you can to the things that matter most, understanding that there are other people who are also doing what you’re doing for the things you’re leaving out. We are in this together!

Step 7, rest, recover, and take care of yourself, practice gratitude, and renew those resources so that you can be effective again when the need or inspiration arises.

The last thing is this: There actually is a way for each of us with our little voices to collectively effect critical, broad, society- and world-level positive change.

VOTE.

Whatever you have to do to get to the polls or get your ballot to a drop box (if it’s too late to safely put it in the mail), do it.

VOTE.

With a friend, or better yet a group of friends so you can face down the fascist “poll monitors” that are trying to scare you out of exercising your constitutional right and responsibility to use your voice in service of changing the course of this nation before it’s too late.

VOTE.

With an understanding that you’re not just voting for the person, you’re voting for their ideologies, policies, and the people that they bring with them into office.

VOTE.

To support candidates that stand for human rights, equity, equality, science, our children, our schools, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, Black lives, the Earth, and compassionate and progressive ideals.

VOTE.

For candidates that stand against racism, fascism, Trumpism, oppression, isolationism, division, white supremacy, and political cowardice.

VOTE.

As if the lives of your brothers and sisters, friends and family, neighbors and teachers and the person who delivers your mail depend on it, because they do.

VOTE.

Please.

Originally Published on 10/29/20