🤩 Find joy in activism

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View this email online Kristen Uroda/NPR Friends, There is no one way to change the world.  We all have different causes that move us or scare us or call us to action – and these days, there are plenty to choose from: young activists are speaking up on gun rights, the Corinthian 15 recently went on strike for student debt forgiveness and groups on both sides of the abortion debate are gearing up in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision on reproductive rights. Often, activism can look big, like organizing a march for racial justice or occupying a pump station to protest a pipeline. The idea of working for real change can be intimidating, or feel futile, or both. But Karen Walrond, author of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy, says it’s time to expand our definition of activism.  "Any time you are led by your values to do purposeful action in the hopes of making the world brighter for other people," you're participating in activism, says Walrond. She calls it "lightmaking." You don’t have to reach very far to find lightmaking in your everyday life. It can look like being a kind neighbor, keeping your heritage language alive or opting for more sustainable fashion.  We can sometimes be quick to discount the small goods we do or the talents we have to share, but doing what you love can make a real difference!   So today, this is your reminder to let your light shine ✨. We could all do with some brighter days, no? Listen to the episode Newsletter continues after sponsor message To become a lightmaker, you can approach the process like you would build a campfire.  ⛺ Make a clearing  The first step to finding your personal expression of activism is to clear your mind of all the things you think you should do, and instead find a safe space for the work you want to do, says Walrond. That means turning down the volume on all those campaigns and hashtags and GoFundMe pages, and understanding the limitations of the space you have to give. Can you really offer 20 hours of volunteer time a week? Do you have time or energy to fact-check social media posts before re-sharing them, or do you risk spreading misinformation about a cause? 🪓 Gather tinder Gathering your tinder means “doing the inventory in your own life about the things that you already love to do, that you would do anyway, and figuring out, ‘How can I use that to be of service?’” says Walrond. Think about your talents and what really lights you up: your penchant for baking, your speed-reading skills, your eye for interior design, your Rubik’s cube mastery!  “We're all different people and we have different ways that we can hook into activism in a way that really enriches us,” she says. 🎇Find your spark The sparks of your activism fire are the causes and beliefs that most move you to action. Walrond suggests creating a “spark statement” you can return to in times of stress or uncertainty. Ask yourself: “What is it you want to do and how do you want to move through the world? What is it you want to stand for?” Get inspired by reading other spark statements here. 🔥Tend to the flames An important part of activism is finding ways to keep your passion ignited while avoiding burnout from the process. That’s not always easy. Walrond says it’s important to make space for joy and to focus on the journey, not the finish line. “Our job is to take the baton from the people who came before us and then pass it along to the next people,” she says.  No action is too small. Donate that impactful book to your local library, start an employee resource group at the office or plant some flowers in your community garden. At the end of the day, Walrond says, “all activism is good activism.”  –Andee Tagle, Life Kit producer 📢Send us your questions about wilderness survival!📢 🧗‍♀️ What do you want to know about making it in the great outdoors? 🤕Want to know how to deal with an injury on a morning hike? 🏕 Hesitant to go solo camping?   📧 Send us an email or voice note with your questions to lifekit@npr.org Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy