I live in DC, a place notoriously known for wanting to do the big things (and often doing no things 🙃) but man, can I tell you about a community of people I’m a part of who are just doing SOME thing? Babysitting (after training/background checks, of course) for teen parents so they can take a parenting class. Organizing a Christmas store for local shelter residents so they can have a dignified way to be the gift givers for their families at the holidays. Heck, I regularly sit on the Beltway a couple times a year to go do a resume-building workshop with incarcerated men and women.
Is it solving world hunger? No. Are we professionals at any of these things? Also no. But it means something to each of these people (AND it means something to my kids, who are watching.)
Thank you, Sharon for both reminding us here and SHOWING us with the way you live your life and run your business the power of just doing something.
Hello! Curious if the community of doers you describe is an organized group? I’m wondering if there’s something similar in my own community of KC, MO - a group that’s not necessarily dedicated to a sole purpose, but dedicates time to a variety of things…
KCMO here! I see the value in participating in a variety of activities. It allows you to “sample” organizations to find the right one for you. I belong to Beta Sigma Phi, an adult women’s sorority, with world headquarters here. We choose a different organization to support every month. Maybe you’d like that?
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into Beta Sigma Phi. Yes, I’m currently a CASA volunteer but looking for one-off opportunities. Did a bit of Googling and there appear to be a few organizations in KC that act as a database of sorts to match you with opportunities/organizations that fit your criteria.
I am VERY lucky to live in a very engaged neighborhood where people rally around each other in things like a Facebook neighborhood group (don’t worry there’s plenty of complaining there too, haha). I’m also part of a religious community that is in our neighborhood and most of the people who attend there live in the neighborhood, too. (I fully recognize this is probably more common in urban communities.)
This may sound weird, but the nonprofit job board, Idealist, might be a good way to find what nonprofits are working near you. I’ve found that when you offer to volunteer for an org (and truly offer to do whatever they actually *need*) you’ll end up building community with the other volunteers and/or staff. Maybe a place to start?
Thanks for the tip on Idealist! I’ve been browsing for volunteer opps in my area. Never knew about it or any of the other resources that aggregate volunteer opps that I discovered as a result of Sharon’s post and member comments. Another reason I love this very engaged Governerds community.
We are all so freaking proud of you, Sharon. You've built a community on diverse humans all dedicated to being the change we want to see in the world. Thank you for being a champion for "doing... something".
I've repeated your advice to my Gran a few times. She feels she can't do much anymore and I reminded her loving us and people in her community is enough. Not sure she completely believes me yet. But, I'm going to keep trying!
When I feel like I can’t do, I appreciate it when my friends/family share with me what they’re doing, and let me know it’s bc they’ve been inspired by me.
There was a period in my life that was, in a word, *dark.* I sat down with a good friend one day, and really unloaded. He listened intently, then when I had taken a deep breath, and sighed in self pity--he made a suggestion that probably saved my life. He said, "Wow. You really need to find someone to help."
(and...former KC (L.S.) here. Just a general 'thanks' to Beta Sigma Phi. 😊)
And if you feel like you're barely keeping your head above water, the best thing you can do for the world is take care of yourself now, so that one day, you might be able to give more of yourself again. In the meantime, looking for the helpers in your own life and giving them your sincere thanks is a huge help. Smile at someone in public, even if they don't smile back. I was in a dark place for a time and something as simple as a hello lifted my spirits, if only for a while. Being seen and acknowledged is a powerful thing.
1. It helps me! It makes me feel better about myself and the world. When I see/hear about negative things happening, I can be a positive thing. I’m empowered by connecting and working like-minded people.
2. It helps the people I’m interacting with! It changes that person’s world for the better, and gives them hope for the future. They know they are not alone, someone cares.
3. It helps in ways you don’t even know! You never know who is watching and being inspired. Action is contagious. And it goes both ways. Activism > Extremism. You are not only increasing positivity, you are reducing negativity.
So much of this. I was a teacher and left teaching to get a law degree to do more, but despite working in civil rights in education now, I often think my impact would have been greater had I continued to do what I could, one student at a time, 120 students a year.
Last year my younger child was having a hard time with going to aftercare when her friends would get picked up at the end of the day, and repeatedly asked me why I have to work. I would explain that it’s not (just) about having to work, but getting the privilege to work, and that for me, it is necessary to work so that I can make the world a better place. She then asked what is a job is and I said, to me, a job is what you do to make the world a better place. Her answer was that being her mom was a job, because I teach her to be kind, and kindness makes the world better.
Thanks Sharon for sharing your thoughts. I can certainly relate to Sarah's and Beth's experience with regard to teaching. After twenty+ years in the retail industry, I was convinced that no job could compare when it came to long hours, and sheer stress. Then, at age 39, I entered the H.S. classroom as a novice teacher. At first, I thought I had abandoned the 70-80 hour weeks of retail. And the stress? How stressful could it be? I'm an 'experienced' adult. These were a bunch of naive kids. Suffice it to say...it was hard. BUT today--as a retired person--when I look back on my two careers...well, let's just say you'll never find me in a retail outlet working as a substitute stocker. On that note--many school districts across the nation are still in dire need of help. If you're not comfortable as a (substitute) teacher, that's ok. Most schools have many opportunities available where you can make a difference.
During the pandemic, a coworker who lived across the street from a church with a food pantry was motivated to ask our employer to let her start a giving garden on its corporate campus because she saw the lines of people needing food. Now, we're ending our 2nd full year of growing (I help coordinate the giving garden, now) and we've given over 230 lbs of fresh produce to local food shelves this year. It's not a huge amount, but it's something and it's nice for people to get fresh food as well as pantry stable foods. It was what she could do at the time with the resources she had available to her, and she was 7 months pregnant when she started the project. She says she doesn't feel like she did much because she was in maternity leave as it was getting off the ground, but I told her the other day that people are eating what we're growing because she thought no one should have to go hungry. And that's something.
This song showed up on a Spotify mix yesterday, and I thought of you and doing "just one thing" the entire time I listened to it. It's like a Governerd theme song!
"Stop letting the wheels of your mind spin, and just pick up an oar and start rowing." I love this so much! I can really get hung up in analysis paralysis. Sometimes you have to move forward even before you have every last detail ironed out.
I loved this quote so much..."Stop worrying about “is this the best and most meaningful thing I could do, and realize that just trying something out will often answer that question for you."
We recently moved from an area where I'd been part of a school mentor program for years. After three months in our new location, I felt like I hadn't found "my perfect thing." But last week, I signed up to volunteer at a local food bank. Maybe it's the right fit, maybe it's not...but it's something! Reading that quote above confirmed it!
I live in DC, a place notoriously known for wanting to do the big things (and often doing no things 🙃) but man, can I tell you about a community of people I’m a part of who are just doing SOME thing? Babysitting (after training/background checks, of course) for teen parents so they can take a parenting class. Organizing a Christmas store for local shelter residents so they can have a dignified way to be the gift givers for their families at the holidays. Heck, I regularly sit on the Beltway a couple times a year to go do a resume-building workshop with incarcerated men and women.
Is it solving world hunger? No. Are we professionals at any of these things? Also no. But it means something to each of these people (AND it means something to my kids, who are watching.)
Thank you, Sharon for both reminding us here and SHOWING us with the way you live your life and run your business the power of just doing something.
Wow, these are fantastic things going on in your community! Great ideas for us to take back to ours. Thank you for sharing ❤️
Hello! Curious if the community of doers you describe is an organized group? I’m wondering if there’s something similar in my own community of KC, MO - a group that’s not necessarily dedicated to a sole purpose, but dedicates time to a variety of things…
KCMO here! I see the value in participating in a variety of activities. It allows you to “sample” organizations to find the right one for you. I belong to Beta Sigma Phi, an adult women’s sorority, with world headquarters here. We choose a different organization to support every month. Maybe you’d like that?
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into Beta Sigma Phi. Yes, I’m currently a CASA volunteer but looking for one-off opportunities. Did a bit of Googling and there appear to be a few organizations in KC that act as a database of sorts to match you with opportunities/organizations that fit your criteria.
CASA volunteers are some of the biggest heroes! Thank you so much for doing that!
Also from KCMO and moving back (from Scotland 🥲) next week! Will def look into this for when I'm back and settled.
I am VERY lucky to live in a very engaged neighborhood where people rally around each other in things like a Facebook neighborhood group (don’t worry there’s plenty of complaining there too, haha). I’m also part of a religious community that is in our neighborhood and most of the people who attend there live in the neighborhood, too. (I fully recognize this is probably more common in urban communities.)
This may sound weird, but the nonprofit job board, Idealist, might be a good way to find what nonprofits are working near you. I’ve found that when you offer to volunteer for an org (and truly offer to do whatever they actually *need*) you’ll end up building community with the other volunteers and/or staff. Maybe a place to start?
Thanks for the tip on Idealist! I’ve been browsing for volunteer opps in my area. Never knew about it or any of the other resources that aggregate volunteer opps that I discovered as a result of Sharon’s post and member comments. Another reason I love this very engaged Governerds community.
We are all so freaking proud of you, Sharon. You've built a community on diverse humans all dedicated to being the change we want to see in the world. Thank you for being a champion for "doing... something".
I've repeated your advice to my Gran a few times. She feels she can't do much anymore and I reminded her loving us and people in her community is enough. Not sure she completely believes me yet. But, I'm going to keep trying!
When I feel like I can’t do, I appreciate it when my friends/family share with me what they’re doing, and let me know it’s bc they’ve been inspired by me.
There was a period in my life that was, in a word, *dark.* I sat down with a good friend one day, and really unloaded. He listened intently, then when I had taken a deep breath, and sighed in self pity--he made a suggestion that probably saved my life. He said, "Wow. You really need to find someone to help."
(and...former KC (L.S.) here. Just a general 'thanks' to Beta Sigma Phi. 😊)
And if you feel like you're barely keeping your head above water, the best thing you can do for the world is take care of yourself now, so that one day, you might be able to give more of yourself again. In the meantime, looking for the helpers in your own life and giving them your sincere thanks is a huge help. Smile at someone in public, even if they don't smile back. I was in a dark place for a time and something as simple as a hello lifted my spirits, if only for a while. Being seen and acknowledged is a powerful thing.
Doing Something is so powerful on so many levels.
1. It helps me! It makes me feel better about myself and the world. When I see/hear about negative things happening, I can be a positive thing. I’m empowered by connecting and working like-minded people.
2. It helps the people I’m interacting with! It changes that person’s world for the better, and gives them hope for the future. They know they are not alone, someone cares.
3. It helps in ways you don’t even know! You never know who is watching and being inspired. Action is contagious. And it goes both ways. Activism > Extremism. You are not only increasing positivity, you are reducing negativity.
Exactly this!
So much of this. I was a teacher and left teaching to get a law degree to do more, but despite working in civil rights in education now, I often think my impact would have been greater had I continued to do what I could, one student at a time, 120 students a year.
Last year my younger child was having a hard time with going to aftercare when her friends would get picked up at the end of the day, and repeatedly asked me why I have to work. I would explain that it’s not (just) about having to work, but getting the privilege to work, and that for me, it is necessary to work so that I can make the world a better place. She then asked what is a job is and I said, to me, a job is what you do to make the world a better place. Her answer was that being her mom was a job, because I teach her to be kind, and kindness makes the world better.
Thanks Sharon for sharing your thoughts. I can certainly relate to Sarah's and Beth's experience with regard to teaching. After twenty+ years in the retail industry, I was convinced that no job could compare when it came to long hours, and sheer stress. Then, at age 39, I entered the H.S. classroom as a novice teacher. At first, I thought I had abandoned the 70-80 hour weeks of retail. And the stress? How stressful could it be? I'm an 'experienced' adult. These were a bunch of naive kids. Suffice it to say...it was hard. BUT today--as a retired person--when I look back on my two careers...well, let's just say you'll never find me in a retail outlet working as a substitute stocker. On that note--many school districts across the nation are still in dire need of help. If you're not comfortable as a (substitute) teacher, that's ok. Most schools have many opportunities available where you can make a difference.
During the pandemic, a coworker who lived across the street from a church with a food pantry was motivated to ask our employer to let her start a giving garden on its corporate campus because she saw the lines of people needing food. Now, we're ending our 2nd full year of growing (I help coordinate the giving garden, now) and we've given over 230 lbs of fresh produce to local food shelves this year. It's not a huge amount, but it's something and it's nice for people to get fresh food as well as pantry stable foods. It was what she could do at the time with the resources she had available to her, and she was 7 months pregnant when she started the project. She says she doesn't feel like she did much because she was in maternity leave as it was getting off the ground, but I told her the other day that people are eating what we're growing because she thought no one should have to go hungry. And that's something.
This song showed up on a Spotify mix yesterday, and I thought of you and doing "just one thing" the entire time I listened to it. It's like a Governerd theme song!
https://open.spotify.com/track/5gWhUfRR74HAbd88X1hP4f?si=ggGWrMk4Sj6fNAp2rsUB9A
Start rowing. ❤️
"Stop letting the wheels of your mind spin, and just pick up an oar and start rowing." I love this so much! I can really get hung up in analysis paralysis. Sometimes you have to move forward even before you have every last detail ironed out.
Thank you for the positive energy you continually put out there! You are making the world a better place and helping me do the same.
Was your interview with Ken Burns recorded? Is there anyway I can see it?
Thank you so much for all the positive reinforcement going out into the world! Is there a way I can watch your interview with Ken Burns?
You can buy it online: https://www.92ny.org/event/newmark/sharon-mcmahon-and-ken-burns
Will you have an event in Duluth? I would love to attend! I’m a fellow Duluthian!
I loved this quote so much..."Stop worrying about “is this the best and most meaningful thing I could do, and realize that just trying something out will often answer that question for you."
We recently moved from an area where I'd been part of a school mentor program for years. After three months in our new location, I felt like I hadn't found "my perfect thing." But last week, I signed up to volunteer at a local food bank. Maybe it's the right fit, maybe it's not...but it's something! Reading that quote above confirmed it!
I feel so much better about life and my community when I am volunteering. I know one of the hidden benefits is how I am more hopeful.