The current state of the world can no longer be ignored. As we view breaking news broadcast after breaking news broadcast, read headline after headline, and doomscroll endlessly, it's quite easy to be engulfed in fear, rage, sadness, and helplessness.

We give more power to circumstances than we do to our ability to change and modify those circumstances. It is the change within ourselves that matters. A deficient mind cannot change until it hears the message of its higher self.

First and foremost, remember that being informed is important. Take the time to research all sides of an issue you're passionate about. Dive into traditional print media. Limit your time on social media, and when you do scroll, make sure what you are looking at is honest, well-informed, and created by humans. Engage with content from independent journalists and local/independent organizations. Try not to overconsume. Only repost or share information once you have confirmed its accuracy and validity.

Beyond self-education, the most important, most crucial, and most radical step you can take in bettering the world around you is to get involved in your local community. Power in numbers starts with community. Support starts with community. Uplifting and protecting all walks of life starts with community. By bettering your community, you can create a ripple effect that has the power to change the world.

What does getting involved look like? Register for a library card. Volunteer at a local non-profit. Recycle. Build a community garden. Compost. Show up at City Hall to advocate for local issues. Connect with your local representatives. Register to vote. Have respectful, meaningful conversations with all sides of the spectrum. Host a charity drive. Shop local. Clean up litter. Adopt or foster. Buy things second-hand. Start a club. Attend community events. Watch local broadcast stations. Visit nursing homes.  Volunteer at local hospitals. Get vaccinated. Donate to mutual aid funds. Tip in cash. Support union workers. Plant something. Bike, walk, or take public transit. Thank your postal workers. Become a prison pen pal. Know your rights. Know your neighbors' rights. The list goes on and on.

Now, I am in no way saying this will solve everything. Our world and the systems that have come to work within it are broken beyond repair, but we are not. We as a population are stronger and more determined than ever before. By working together in small, but deeply meaningful change, we can replace the current systems and create the world we so desperately wish to thrive within. Change starts with you, change is possible, and change is needed, now.

with peace + love, one final time,

Mia Hamilton
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank