It is a little bit, but it is okay
There are many great problems in this world: inequality, illiteracy, poverty, injustice, etc. It is wrong to approach them with hubris, “I will find a lasting solution to this problem in the world/ in my country/ in my city.” One of the reasons why these problems are so prevalent and persistent is that they are multifactorial. Their origins are complex. The factors that contribute to their maintenance are complex. It is not the work of a single individual or, indeed, of a single organization to tackle them.
Neither is it correct to approach these problems with despair. “This is how it has always been, and this is how it will always be. I did not make it happen and I can do nothing to change it.” We are all able to make a little bit of a difference in the lives of people we meet. We may even be able to volunteer for causes that are close to our hearts.
As the actor Bill Murray puts it:
“I think if you can take care of yourself, and then maybe try to take care of someone else, that’s sort of how you’re supposed to live.”
Impacting many people in a meaningful way is often a difficult, or even impossible, achievement. Large government-run hospitals sometimes do not offer their patients the respect and dignity that each human being deserves. Prestigious educational institutions are often lacking in individualized, supportive, and kinder versions of education. Large corporations often forget to care for their workers and their customers.
A deep and lasting impact on lives is made one person at a time and on a small scale. It is a time and labour-intensive endeavour. It is much less likely to occur on a large scale through organizations or programmes or welfare schemes.
Just because we cannot make a visible difference in the lives of thousands of people doesn’t mean that we cannot make any difference at all.
In his book, The Second Mountain, author and columnist David Brooks quotes an activist:
“I also know that I am part of a struggle. I am not the struggle. I am not leading the struggle. I am there. and I have been there for a long time, and I’m going to be there for the rest of my life. So I have no unrealistic expectations. Therefore, I am not going to get fatigued.”
It is important to understand our limits. And it is also important to understand our power.
