What Should You Do?

Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes – goodwill among men and peace on earth. – Albert Einstein

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up. – Anne Lamott

First, let me say that you shouldn’t do anything. Do what you do because you truly want to. (I used that word to grab your attention, and to create an occasion to comment on the word itself… )

Second, I am breaking from the typical and offering two quotes today because the both showed up in my Inbox, one after the other and express similar sentiments.

Einstein reminds us that we cannot change things, but we can change what we bring to things, namely ourselves and the full measure of our spirit, starting with our voice.

Anne Lamott exhorts us that it’s often “dark” when we start, but that we must start nonetheless.

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