“You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.” Jimmy Carter

Everyone has a quote (or eleven) that is meaningful to them. Each person’s quote guides their work and daily activities. For me, it is the quote above. I have this quote written on a piece of paper and hung near my computer where I can see it daily. It means something to me in nearly all I do. It is a quote that can speak to a lot of people.

We’ve all had days where we get the seemingly impossible work project that’s due two days ago. Or the days where we are expected to purchase Sharing Tree gifts when we’re pretty spent between family gifts and monthly bills. Or the days we choose to write a letter to lawmakers about an issue we feel they are, or are not, handling well. It can be as simple as waiting our turn in line when the cashier is painfully slow. My first thought in tough situations tends to be, “Are you kidding me? Yeah, like I can do this.” But I take a deep breath and think about all of the other things I’ve done, and I think, Yes, I CAN do this.

Often I feel small…too small to make a difference…and overwhelmed. But, to use another quote - this one from Mother Teresa, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” I believe that. I don’t think I’ve ever done one great thing in my life. Even graduating from college was accomplished by completing a bunch of small tasks that added up. I think the small and overwhelming feelings come from thinking I have to do it all. I don’t have to do it all. I can’t. But I can do something. However insignificant it may seem, I can do something.

We are smart, literate and caring people who live in a shared world. We all can do a lot more than we think we can. I’m not perfect. My priorities are sometimes screwed up. Some nights I would rather just sit on the sofa and watch TV. Other times I remind myself that I need to do my part to help make this a better world. Even if that is just giving a compliment, or letting someone go ahead of me in line, or sending an email to lawmakers. I do these things because I can, because I care, and because I hope it will make a difference.