Once you choose hope, anything is possible. ~Christopher Reeve I dwell in possibility. ~Emily Dickenson Listen to the must'nts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn't, the impossible, the won't. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me ... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ~Shel Silverstein. Well here we … Continue reading Creating More Paths for Success: How Being Hopeful Makes it More Likely That You’re Going to Be Okay (And How You Can Become More Hopeful)
Friendship is a sheltering tree. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge As you've probably gathered, this month is devoted to taking care of ourselves and each other. From unpacking the elusive concept of "self-care" to talking about why you should laugh as often as possible, this month is dedicated to making all of us stronger, healthier, happier activists. … Continue reading Feeling Lonely? You’re Not Alone. Fifteen Ideas to Build Your Network
“If you aren’t having fun, you aren’t doing it right.” ~Prof. Greg Scott “To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it.” ~Charlie Chaplin As you may have guessed, here at Small Deeds Done, February is all about taking stock of where we are and what we need to … Continue reading Seven Ways To Use Humor – and Why You Should
People who work hard often work too hard. . . . May we learn to honor the hammock, the siesta, the nap and the pause in all its forms. ~Alice Walker If you get tired, learn to rest. Not to quit. ~Banksy Ahhh, "self-care." It's all the rage, isn't it? It seems to be the … Continue reading How to Not Be a Self-Care Failure
Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the whole world. ~Hilary Clinton The past week has been ... enlightening. As I watched a petulant Brett Kavanaugh sneer at a patient Senator Klobuchar and interrupt Senator Feinstein (and y'all know how I feel about men interrupting women) I saw - as you likely did … Continue reading The Busy Woman’s Guide to Channeling Your Rage.
Our enemies have a goal: They want you to first give up hope, then just give up altogether. Despair is their tool. Exhaustion, fear and isolation are their tools. Cynicism is the obedience they seek from you. Refuse to obey: Take heart. Embrace defiant optimism. Hope huge. ~Alex Steffen A poll came out recently showing that 62% of us are … Continue reading Fighting Fatigue (the Wonky Way)
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. ~Lyndon B. Johnson Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss It's hard to pay attention right now. Isn't it? Sometimes watching the news feels like witnessing a catastrophe in … Continue reading Taking a Break Without Dropping Your Megaphone: Finding Empathic Joy
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. ~Marilyn vos Savant Two weeks ago I sent out an e-mail to newsletter subscribers asking how everyone was feeling post-Ossoff. I was blown away by the response. Friends - thank you for your candor, and for your willingness to share your … Continue reading Resilience for the Resistance: Ways to Build a Stronger Union (of Activists)
Small Deeds Done 