“If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.” ― Eldridge Cleaver
I really love this quote. It’s one I think about often in the workplace, in my personal life, and just in the broad spectrum of how one should conduct themselves when faced with a difficult situation.
And let’s face it: there are a lot of those.
If you encounter a problem of some kind, your visceral reaction -- if you’re anything like me -- would be to complain about it. “Vent.” “Ugh, can I rant for a second?” you may ask one of your peers/coworkers/friends. And that’s fine; we all do that.
But one thing I’ve learned totally echoes the sentiment in the quote at the top of the page: if you have a problem with something and you don’t personally have a solution, suggestion or idea on how to fix it: you’re now a part of that problem.
This is absolutely something you can apply in almost every aspect of your life, and it’s something I try to instill in the folks I work with or who report to me. Having an issue with a client or colleague? Sure, let me hear it -- but come to me with a proposed resolution, too.
Otherwise you’re just complaining.
When I found out on the worst day of my life November 8, 2016 that Donald J. Trump was going to be our next President, I complained (understatement). I ranted. I vented. I bitched. I whined.
And then I remembered that quote. And I remembered that while it’s my God-given right to do those things, there’s nothing productive about them. So I decided to *ALSO* do some things that I felt would contribute to society in a positive way, in order to feel like I wasn’t a part of the problem.
[Editor’s note: I am not done complaining or being angry about this, by the way. And if you don’t know why that is, I suggest you go on the Internet and read the latest developments about Trump, his staff picks and how the world is reacting to it all. Anyway, carry on.]
Now, full disclosure: I thought a lot about whether I wanted to rattle off some of the things I’ve done/will be doing in a charitable sense because it can come across as self-righteous and obnoxious. But please realize I just want to this to serve as a reminder that there ARE things you can do if you're feeling badly and negatively about the current state of affairs in this world. Any type of ‘act of kindness’ (albeit tiny ones), charitable donations and/or volunteer opportunities are GREAT ways to ensure you’re doing some good in the midst of some bad.
In the past week, here are some things I’ve done in order to combat all that complaining and unproductive behavior and energy I put out into the world:
Donated $100 to Planned Parenthood (in Mike Pence’s name, obviously)
Signed up to volunteer at a NYC Food Bank in a couple weeks
Received a ‘Santa letter’ from a child who lives in a shelter and bought him some Christmas presents
Made brownies for my office UNICEF bake sale this week (we raised $1500!)
Signed up to receive additional information around volunteer opportunities from both GLAAD & The Trevor Project
....and I’m not done. I want to continuously think about ways in which I can donate my time and money to causes I’m passionate about (and ones I feel are directly affected by this election). I want to remember that sometimes little gestures go a long way; that a compliment or a smile or a simple pleasantry means a lot to people, too.
I need to continue to stand up for what I believe in and feel is right.
And I’ll never stop doing that.
If you have any similar personal stories or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them! Also, here’s a guide to some OTHER things you can do to ‘get involved,’ from the blog A Cup of Jo: 5 Ways to Get Involved
Let’s do some good, y’all!