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“The work is here. The work is offline. The work is online. The work is internal. The work is external. The work is in the streets. The work is in C-suites. The work is in advocacy. The work is in art. The work is local. The work is global. The work is wherever we are.”

– Bernice King

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My week has been WILD: between prepping for this Thursday’s Spring Collection Launch in the shop and traveling for speaking gigs (I’m literally in an airport right now), things have definitely been running away from me. I often feel like I can’t hold it all. What about you?

I wanted to pause in the series we’re doing on When Activism Becomes Legalism (you can get caught up on Part 1 and Part 2 here in the meantime) and send out a much-needed reminder to you: you’re doing better than you think.

The other day, I did a post on Instagram with a series of reminders that tending to what you’re called to is good, important work. I wasn’t expecting how many messages I’d receive from people in tears over their feelings of inadequacy caused by their inability to hold everything they care about at all times: every issue, every cause, every volunteer opportunity… while also balancing sick babies, unemployment, mental health battles, and more. 

Quick question: who told you that you had to hold all of that, all at once, all the time?

As the hardships of any given day fall like leaves from trees rooted in oppression, inequity, and hardship, some leaves will inevitably slip through your grasp. You cannot give attention to every leaf. They cannot all be held, but there are many that can be.

When any overwhelming feeling sinks in and it seems like we can affect little or no positive change, remember what’s within your reach: your loved ones, your neighbors, and the small ways you can make a difference. 

I know that you feel a responsibility to be the change you want to see in this tough world. You’re absolutely right–we all have that responsibility. But we often find ourselves feeling guilty because we feel like our reach isn’t wide enough, our voice isn’t loud enough, or our impact isn’t felt enough. This is zapping your energy and shrinking your capacity to do what you can with what you have.

Being intentional about doing good where you’re planted is an opportunity to water the seeds of change around you and watch them grow. You’re needed right where you are. My mom was the first advocate I ever saw: the way she fought for me to be respected and heard planted the seeds of a fighter within me, and I credit where I am today to her. Her good work for a season, alongside my dad, was simply raising me–and in that season, it was more than enough. 

We can’t hold everything, but we can take small steps to spark change right where we are. Local involvement, digital awareness, donations, and so many other practical actions have incredible, positive effects… 

AND it’s okay that you can’t hold it all; you weren’t meant to. When your hands do get full, and you have to put a thing or two down for a bit, it doesn’t change how valuable you are, how much you matter, and how needed you still are in this world.

Also: you deserve rest, care, and the opportunity to care for yourself, too.