Do a Thing
How we keep going when so much feels outside of our control.
What do we do in a world that feels like it’s spinning wildly out of control?
I’ve been thinking about the feeling of sheer exhaustion that so many of us in the United States are dealing with right now. How absolutely overwhelmed we are by the constant onslaught of bad news and the knowledge of evil-doing by our government and the rancor now taking over the zeitgeist. And I’ve been wondering how we survive through this, how we remain strong, how we keep marching through the torrent with the wind blowing against us. How do we keep going and keep hope alive for better times — for a less bitter-tasting life — when so much feels outside of our control?
The truth is, for most of us “little guys”, a lot of this situation is outside of our direct control. But we still have the power of influence. And over this past year, I think a lot of the driving force behind the work I do is a burning desire to reach out and grab a strand of that influence wherever I can find it. To refuse to allow the situation to render me completely helpless and voiceless. To still accept the call to improve life wherever I can for whomever I can, even — especially — when people in power want me to be reduced to a hapless, humanity-less nothing.
Golden Thread Farm has never really (since September) been only about eggs. Eggs are the manifestation, but really it’s about using whatever resources, knowledge, passions and skills we have to do what we can, where we can to make things better. In a time where everything (and everyone) seemed to be falling apart around me, I picked one concrete thing that I had the resources and skill and interest to offer and the ability to actually see the physical impact it made.
(Because seeing the results of our efforts really matters, psychologically.)
Producing eggs to give to the food bank is like my version of bringing a casserole to someone’s house during a personal tragedy. I don’t know what else to do in this time where so many people are suffering, struggling, exhausted or grieving the loss of normalcy and cultural decency, so this is something real and tangible that I can offer. It doesn’t fix everything, but it’s one good thing I can touch and believe in. Something that helps someone.
None of us alone is going to fix the society we’re all living in right now. Giving up and watching it rot is also not an option. But each of us is capable of doing something good within our own sphere of influence. Everyone has a thing (whether tangible or intangible) to offer. And if everyone picks a thing, I believe — I have to believe — we can move the needle enough to not only keep the evil at bay, but to build something better for everyone.
Because "People have the Power....."! I am a huge Patti Smith fan. She is on Substack. She helped me see the good in Americans after the election of 2024. Saw two of her concerts in Germany last year. "..... to redeem the work of fools." Beautiful song(s), beautiful soul. Just like you, Cass.
I went to a city council meeting in my small town on Monday. The mayor was adding 2 Proclamations to the agenda. One was to support ANTIFA and the other to support ICE. In my small town, which was a farming community and now has around 30,000 people. One Main St. Yet the government has infiltrated even us. Most of this is because this town has deep religious roots, mostly Apostolic and now a very fundamental Protestant group is buying up storefronts and businesses. So, I felt the need to speak up in protest, as did 60 other residents. Yet, like in federal government, the mayor did not care. He listened to all of our complaints and then proceeded anyway. I am so discouraged. Like you, I don't know how to stop this escalation into hate and lost rights for so many (and soon probably women as well). I hate what this government is trying to ram down our throats. Unlike you, I remember the 50's and they were not great despite what Trump thinks. Brown, black and women (all women regardless of color) had very few rights. Women could not apply for a credit card in their own names or take out a loan. To get a divorce you had to prove infidelity or mental impairment. Birth control was not possible. I personally do not want to go back. Here's hoping people wake up and vote this administration out. It's the only thing we can really do.