I’ve spent decades now advocating for change on a whole raft of social justice and environmental issues.
There has been some progress in some areas, but I admit that there are times when I get tired, times when I realize that a change we’ve been working on for decades still hasn’t happened or where there’s been backsliding on a right that we thought had been secured.
Some days, I want to just throw in the towel.
But then I think about it and realize that a lot has been accomplished by so many people working together. The progress is often slow and incremental. When a change seems sudden, it’s usually the result of years of groundwork laying the foundation.
When I get discouraged, it’s often a comment from a friend that helps me realize the importance of the work, even when it seems we aren’t getting anywhere and even when the hoped-for change is unlikely in my lifetime. (This especially applies to my work on gender equality in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church tends to think in centuries.)
So, at least so far, though I do change the issues I concentrate on from time to time, I keep at it.
Keep on keeping on.
*****
Linda’s Prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this week is to use “throw in the towel” at some point in the post. Join us for Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday and/or Just Jot It January! Find our more here: https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/27/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2023-daily-prompt-jan-28th/
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It’s great to ‘dig in’ for causes but incremental change is the best and lasting kind. Otherwise, it’s just a tyrannically imposed edict. I admire your tenacity!
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Thanks, Susan. I appreciate your comment about incremental change. Sometimes, it can take a generation or two for a change to really be in the hearts and minds of most people. It’s frightening, though, when bigotry and violence cause such harm along the way. The contrast is especially stark in the US right now.
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Well, according to media reports anyway. 😉
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You see it in surveys, too. (Real, well-done surveys, I mean.) Sometimes, public sentiment is out ahead of public policy and sometimes old prejudices persist long after policy and most folks have moved on.
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Good points. Sometimes people only ‘see’ what they’re looking for too. (Especially pollsters. That’s their super-power.} ❤
Just sayin…
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Thank you for your service, Joanne. Your words make me think of ripples in a big pond that do make a difference and Mother Teresa’s words about doing small tasks with great love. As I get older and have fluctuating energy, I have to pick my battles. But we’re not done yet. Your voice makes a difference!
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Thanks, JoAnna, for all you’ve done, are doing, and will do. Yes, what we are able to do changes over time, but we are many so the work continues, even when we have to pull back. I also appreciate your comments about how even small works can have impacts that we can’t know. It’s comforting to contemplate.
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“The Catholic Church tends to think in centuries” 🙂 Your advocacy and work for causes ripples out here, on this blog, for those of us who need encouragement to keep at whatever it is we feel we’ve been led to do. So thank you!
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Thanks for your comment, Ellen. It’s encouraging to me to think that I’m being helpful to folks. You’re welcome!
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