Global events of the last few weeks remind us, in many ways, just how little power we actually have. In the face of worrisome headlines– as well as a handful that feel downright alarming or paralyzing– I have a choice to make. I could spend hours worrying over the admittedly infinitesimally small possibility of a nuclear war– but that worry won’t remove launch codes from a dictator’s hands. I could “news spiral” (which, to be transparent, I’ve done my fair share of)– but while reading high quality news sources makes me more informed, skimming the 15th headline on a subject is only likely to make a situation seem more out of control. 

But it would be a mistake to believe that we are completely powerless in the face of global events.  In fact, our advocacy and our lived example in our own tiny corner of the world can do plenty to tackle the world’s biggest problems. 

In the face of war and a growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, I can remember that silence is not neutral– it is a tool of the oppressor. I can write to my political representatives, donate to organizations providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, or seek out ways to reach out to marginalized members of my local community. 

With inflation reaching a 40 year high, I can acknowledge the very real challenges people may face when they pay more at the pump or grocery store. But I can also see this as an opportunity to support infrastructure that helps create a more equitable global food system and kickstart green energy initiatives. More immediately, I can use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate consumerism in my personal life, and even imagine a future in which the world “stops shopping.”

When I read recent reports that our window to avert climate disaster is rapidly closing, I can’t unilaterally convince the world to reduce our collective carbon footprint. But I can switch my home to renewable energy, donate to organizations that protect rainforests, and change my own consumption habits to reduce my reliance on plastics and other harmful chemicals. 

I have the power to choose peace and joy in my own life. To relish the sound of my daughter laughing, to savor my cup of coffee in the morning, and to enjoy the sounds of nature on an otherwise quiet hike. And, I have the power to do good– real, tangible, problem-solving good– from my own tiny corner of the world.  May you and I never forget that.