“Do what you can with what you’ve got”
“We may not be able to change global circumstances, but we can almost always take action and make a difference some arena of life.
I believe taking action, even in small ways, is the key to remaining hopeful and connected to common humanity even while sadness, violence and turmoil simultaneously exist.
I find these questions by “The Art of Gathering” author Priya Parker a useful place to begin as I decide what to do.
What is it that I know how to do?
Where is the need?
How can I help?
I also like to reflect on this quote that’s often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, but which Roosevelt — in his autobiography — attributes to Squire Bill Widener.
“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”
In January, I decided to use what I’ve got by volunteering at Colorado Springs-based nonprofit Partners in Housing, which supports families that are in a housing crisis.
Last fall, while writing articles about nonprofits participating in the Gazette’s Empty Stocking Fund, I learned about the important work Partners in Housing does in our community. The organization’s yearlong program provides their clients — who are almost all women — with safe, affordable housing, allowing them to establish a rental history and giving them stability in their lives.”
To read her full article on Partners in Housing and her experience volunteering, visit the Pikes Peak Courier Here.
To get connected and volunteer with us, visit Here.
This article is written by a dedicated Partners in Housing volunteer, Joanna Zaremba, pictured above.
