One Rock a Day

Don't disengage. Do one thing a day. It matters.

Denial is not our friend. It's what got us here, and it won't get us out. We’re starting to see results from our pushback. But it’s a slow process, like building a rock wall, one rock at a time.

I'm partial to denial myself. Denial is optimism's best friend. But pretending all the awfulness isn’t happening is a sure road to destruction. I know, I know, everyone is exhausted, after only a few weeks of this insanity and cruelty. It’s healing to turn off the news and focus on what’s close up—nature, family, friends, work. But I’m trying to keep engaged, just for a few minutes every day. Some days, a few minutes is all I can stand. But I do one thing: one phone call, one paragraph of a letter to the editor. A $5 contribution to a worthy cause. One social media post. One conversation.

Those tiny actions add up. It’s like building a wall, adding one rock a day.

One rock a day. It’s one of my favorite metaphors. A few years ago, I decided to build an actual rock wall, a long and ambitious stretch along the back foundation of the house. It will look scenic, I thought, rustic, picturesque. Classic New England, Robert Frost and all that. I love rock walls, and they’re easy to build, right? After all, how hard can it be to pile one rock on top of another?

I started out one bright spring day with a pile of rocks and a lot of enthusiasm. After ten minutes, things were still going pretty well. After twenty minutes I’d dropped a rock on my finger and my enthusiasm was diminishing. After thirty minutes I was on the porch with an iced tea, nursing my sore finger and strained back, and giving up on rock walls.

But still. I really wanted a rock wall, especially to strengthen the old and rickety foundation. Back to work, but more slowly this time. Building a rock wall is something you just can’t rush. I decided I could handle one rock a day.

One rock a day. Every day, almost. Some days I heave a big bruiser. Other days, I add a pebble. It’s okay, even the tiniest rock helps to stabilize the big ones. Some days or even weeks I skip it, but then I get back to it. One rock a day

It matters that we’re showing up, calling Congress, going to the local rally. We’re making a difference. Even mainstream media is being forced to notice. The Washington Post: "Trump's Honeymoon is Over." Forbes: "Trump's Signature Policies Largely Unpopular." The Arizona Republic: "Sorry MAGA, but Trump is the most unpopular president in 70 years." Reuters: "Trump’s approval rating slips as Americans worry about the economy."

One of the best ways I’ve found to stay engaged is to sign up to be on the mailing list of a local group. There are a ton of them—Indivisible is my favorite—they’re a national organization, of course, but they can hook you up with your neighborhood group.

You don’t have to socialize, or join all the calls, or do all the protests or whatever. But glancing over the e-mails or newsletter of a local group can clue you in to a vigil not far from your house, or a local boycott you can support—and you find out about it before it’s all over and you read about it in the paper. I live in the Capital Region of upstate New York, and I’ve gleaned a lot of useful information from a Newsletter that’s published by a local grassroots activist. Here’s an example:

“The most important upcoming election is in Wisconsin and you can make a difference. Musk is giving millions to the extreme right-wing candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court that will rule on election laws that could decide control of Congress in 2026 and the presidency in 2028. Please help elect liberal Judge Susan Crawford:

1. Write letters to potential voters with easy instructions: Just follow this step by step guide at https://votefwd.org/instructions.

2. Make phone calls from your home.

3. Donate through here.

I pick and choose, to decide which of the many possibilities best fits my energy and motivation level on any particular day. Like (returning to the metaphor) choosing just the right rock to balance on the wall.

The success of any metaphor must be based on how well it’s grounded in reality. My actual rock wall is showing the results of persistence. After several years’ work, my rock wall is an average of two feet in height, and totals 47 feet in length.

I have a long way to go, but I keep at it.

Dear Friends,

Are you terrified about the state of the world and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every now and then I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we can really make a difference.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

--Noam Chomsky