The Power of Small Actions in Overwhelming Times

Can small actions really make a difference?   I get it, how can what you do make a difference?  There are days when it feels like the weight of everything is just too much. When the world is drowning in negativity, corruption, and division, it can be hard to believe anything I do really makes a difference. I know I’m not alone in this — so many of us feel overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of frustration, wondering why things aren’t changing faster.

My Personal Struggle

I got involved with my local Democratic Party because I believed in the power of community, in making change from the ground up. But honestly, what I’ve seen so far is disheartening. People who hold power are clinging to it so tightly, they’re letting it slip through their fingers. It’s like watching the people who should be leaders destroy the very system they’re supposed to protect.

When I ran for a position on the Irondequoit Democratic Party, I thought I was doing something positive. I believed that by stepping forward, I could help bring new energy and perspectives into the committee. However, when the vote came, I was one of only nine people from outside the established circle who made it onto the committee. Once I was in, it became clear: “Thanks for your ideas, but we know better.” I was essentially told to sit in the corner, vote when we need quorum, and leave the real decision-making to those who had already been in power. No real change, no voice in shaping the future. It felt like being handed a seat with no power to use it.

What’s even harder to swallow is watching those who represent my community stay silent. They’re not standing up to the corruption, the destructive behaviors, or the absence of compassion. The silence is deafening. It’s hard not to feel like their inaction makes it worse, like they’ve forgotten what it means to actually represent people, to lead with courage.

How Do You Make a Difference?

So, in those moments, when the mountain feels too tall to climb, I remind myself that I can still take small actions — ones that matter, even if they feel insignificant in the grand scheme. For me, one of those actions is sending letters of support. Every week, I write to someone who is making a difference. It doesn’t matter if they’re a leader in my community or someone out there quietly doing good. I let them know they’re seen, appreciated, and that their work is valued.

I do this because it’s something I wish for myself — a reminder that the work I do, even when it feels small, is noticed. It can be easy to get lost in the everyday grind, feeling like my efforts are invisible or meaningless. But every letter I send is my way of showing that I see them, that what they’re doing matters. And that, in turn, helps me remember that I matter too.

Small Actions

The road ahead can feel long, and hope can feel out of reach. Some days, I struggle with that too. But it’s in those moments I remember: it’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to feel like I’m not doing enough. What matters is that I keep doing what I can, even if it’s just one small step at a time. It all adds up.

What I’m doing — whether it’s a letter, a kind word, or a small act of resistance — is a pebble that chips away at the mountain. And maybe it won’t all move at once, but each step I take is a sign that I haven’t given up. And that’s enough.  Small actions have power, you just have to be willing to take them.

So, I ask you: what small action can you take today to remind someone they’re seen and appreciated?