What’s stopping you? ~John V.
The third week in November is always a reflective one for me.
It’s Thanksgiving Week, so it’s a good time to spend time thinking aboutwhat I’m grateful for.
But it also marks another anniversary. On a bright and sunny afternoon seven years ago, I sat in a cafe, at a table close to the corner and right by the big front window. The sunlight warmed my back all through brunch.
It was just after the 2016 election – a scarlet red time, when everyday life was punctuated with emotions and fears so sharp they left a metallic taste in your mouth.
Someone should do something, I said to my husband, sipping on my coffee. There are so many people who are looking for something to do. There’s so much power there. We just need to direct it somehow.
Why don’t you do that? He replied.
That’s crazy. I laughed. Because that really was crazy.
No, really. He looked up, a quite serious expression on his face. You know how to make a website. You’re a lawyer. You love to write. What’s stopping you?
I didn’t have an answer to that question, frankly.
And that, friend, is how Small Deeds came to be.
I immediately started thinking about what I’d call this project – and the quote from Peter Marshall “Small Deeds Done are better than great deeds planned” had always stuck with me. After all, small things that actually get done will always do more than a two-year strategy plan that’s workshopped and talked to death but never implemented.
I’ll call it Small Deeds Done, I said to my husband.
When we got home, I created the website. I set up an email list. And I wrote the first entry.
November 20, 2016.
It was before Indivisible. Before organized calls-to-action were a regular thing. Before once-nimble organizing groups corporatized and overstretched and overwhelmed themselves.
It was the wild west of advocacy, and it was pretty darn exciting if I do say so. You might remember.
And here we are – seven years later. We’ve learned a lot. About ourselves, about our fellow Americans, and about our country. Some has been inspiring. Some, not so much.
Having Small Deeds has given me an outlet – a way to help those around me and myself at the same time. I’ve always been a big believer in Action Therapy. If there’s something wrong in the world, give me something to do to make it better –and I’ll feel better. It gives me some measure of control over the uncontrollable, perhaps.
Then, as I saw people getting exhausted with the constant barrage of negative news, I realized there was just as great of a need for a pep talk each week as there was for actions. So I got to work doing what I could to provide a weekly reprieve from the negative – and a little dose of inspiration.
But at the end of the day, I have you to thank for helping me get through the last seven years.
Without you, I’d have been floundering about trying to find a place to be useful.
You’ve given me quite a gift. Thank you.
Before you ask – Small Deeds is not done, and I’m not going anywhere. I hope you aren’t either. The work of democracy is far from over. It was never over, actually – it’s just that we didn’t recognize how critical each one of us is in protecting it.
You are an essential part of how our country responds to the present moment, and those to come.
We are an essential part of how our country responds to the present moment.
Before I leave you to your Thanksgiving planning, I want to give you one last thing to think about.
One woman – one woman! – in November 2016 finished eating her breakfast and decided to start a website to help channel people’s energy and direct it to do good. Seven years later, because of that one decision, we’re thousands strong. And we – you – helped move the needle and change the course of our communities, our country, our history. Our lives.
What could you do in just a few years, if you just asked yourself: why not?
As my husband asked me nearly seven years ago to the day: What’s stopping you?
Let’s get to work.
Actions for the Week of November 21, 2023
Due to the holiday I’m taking this week easy – and I hope you do, too. But I did get an action in my inbox from Postcards to Voters that I thought you might be interested in! I’ll see you on the other side of the holiday, friend!
Postcards to Voters’ New Campaign: Dec 5 Special Election
Your Help Needed A.S.A.P.!
A Republican Florida State Representative resigned and a Special Election was called. It will be held December 5 and many speculate that this date was chosen to enjoy low turnout to keep the seat in Republican hands. We’re writing for Democrat Johnny Farias and Postcards to Voters has plenty of addresses to share with you. You can help by writing to 5 voters (or more).
Request addresses by sending an email to Request@AbbyAddresses.org with the following text in the body of the message: Send me 5 addresses for the Johnny Farias in FL campaign.
Voila!
WHEW! GO TEAM!
P.S.: Why don’t you make someone’s day and send this pep talk to a friend or two? I bet they need it.
If you’d like to sign up to get this pep talk and action list in your in-box each week, you can do that here. Welcome, friend!
P.P.S.: If you want to help support this work you can do so via Patreon at
https://www.patreon.com/smalldeedsdone or via paypal at https://www.paypal.me/smalldeeds
My deepest gratitude in advance.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for writing. I read and respond to every email! We’re in this together. Don’t you forget it.
Small Deeds Done 