The standard for change isn’t “is my doing this going to change the world?” The standard is “is my doing this part of the shift I want to see my community make?” And if the answer is yes, I do my best

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A screenshot of a Tumblr post. The text reads: I keep seeing posts claiming that x y or z action you can do to build a better world won’t matter. That capitalism doesn’t care, and your own actions dont amount to much. It’s so painfully individualistic. Of course me doing that thing isn’t going to save anybody or anything. Im not trying to be a superhero who personally saves the say. I am one leaf making oxygen in a massive forest of other trees making oxygen. I am doing my best and having faith that millions of others will do their best as well. Because that can and has made big changes over time. Like. That is just how change happens. Thats cultural shifts. Thats political shifts. Thats how lasting changes happen. I don’t plant milkweed because I’m personally gonna save monarch butterflies. I plant milkweed because I know thousands of us are gonna plant milkweed and send money to the people fighting horrible pesticides in court. The standard for change isn’t “is my doing this going to change the world?” The standard is “is my doing this part of the shift I want to see my community make?” And if the answer is yes, I do my best.

I love that analogy. No, you’re not going to personally save the world by reducing your carbon footprint. But you know what you are going to be? One leaf on a tree in a forest, making that little bit more oxygen that helps collectively make the world a better place.

And that’s worth doing. Especially if you can encourage other people to be leaves too.

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i think the overall sentiment of doing your bit is good, but I think this misses some nuance.

When people talk about not focusing on individual action that might not have an effect, often they mean: don’t guilt others for not doing one particular action, or don’t spend all your limited energy litigating actions with small impact.

We all have different constraints, needs and energy levels. Focusing on what the other is doing instead of the systems that cause these problems means that people with disabilities, economic disadvantage, etc. are often scolded for stuff that frankly doesn’t matter.

Oppose systems, support people.

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