| Hello Friend, In our center, I often get to feel proud and enthusiastic for the people who visit and share about the actions they’re taking in their lives. I’ve noticed that despite my excitement, the other person frequently feels discouraged and bothered about how “little” their efforts are. I worry that the pressure to change our lives or the world around us in big, dramatic ways can be pervasive and difficult to combat. Becoming a wholly new person overnight or devoting your life to a cause to make an immediate difference can be really appealing, but this mindset can lead to disappointment when our minds, bodies, or circumstances don’t meet those expectations. It can be disheartening and unhelpful to focus only on the “big things” we can accomplish and do with our time. I believe that we overlook and undervalue the little things; the ten-minute meditation, the lunch with a friend who is struggling, the walk in the woods, the Zoom meeting in your pajamas talking with others about how to make our shared world a better place. Comparison to others can make you feel discouraged at your own efforts. But no one can take big swings in every aspect of their lives. By setting aside panic or irritation, you may find that you actually can’t (or don’t want to) change your whole life to match the intensity of others’ efforts. None of us live in a vacuum, and each individual has limited resources. The diversity of where and how we each use our own energy, whether it’s in the ways we care for ourselves or others, is a strength. Our small efforts matter. They can snowball, creating beautiful journeys of learning and confidence-building. They matter to others; a gesture, kind word, or time with you that you had to build into your busy day might carry someone else throughout a difficult week. And little moments and actions are meaningful just on their own merit. Our lives are not narratives that build up to a crescendo at the end. Each hour we spend gently nurturing ourselves or others is beautiful. What is a small action you have done recently that you haven’t given yourself credit for? Send us an email if you’d like to share it with us, knowing that we will be cheering you on when we hear about it! If you’re looking for ideas for little steps to take, our programs and events at the end of this newsletter may be helpful inspiration. We are excited to hear from you and to welcome you to our space, where we celebrate little steps that we take every day! In Solidarity,
Maggie Feinstein
Executive Director
10.27 Healing Partnership |