{"id":1697,"date":"2024-08-01T19:40:24","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T23:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/?p=1697"},"modified":"2024-08-01T19:40:24","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T23:40:24","slug":"what-we-can-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/what-we-can-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Can Do"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">What can we do?????<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1698\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/what-we-can-do\/despondency\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?fit=799%2C533&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"799,533\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Despondency\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?fit=584%2C390&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1698\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?resize=300%2C200\" alt=\"guys sitting on curb by grungy street\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Despondency.jpg?w=799&amp;ssl=1 799w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>If you feel uncertain about politics, violence, economics, the environment, or any other current issues, global and personal, you may also feel a tad helpless about \u201cthings.\u201d Perhaps as a reader or follower of Spirit Moxie, you\u2019ve forgotten that there really are little things we can do to change the world. Or maybe you\u2019ve never really thought that little things might work to affect big issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">But little things do make a difference. First consider energy. Yup. Consider how you\u2019re feeling right now. Energy spreads. Think of anger and how it can morph into a riot. Well, it works the same way with peace and calm. Think of a meditative space such as a cathedral or even those quiet spaces in airports. You walk in and can feel your whole body relax because of the energy of others who are there or have been there. At a recent Corner of Calm, a half hour virtual event where we simply share calm, I talked about this. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/IX4PJlqkPJo?si=VPiOfFSR78ea5jAo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You can hear this reflection on YouTube.<\/a> Perhaps monitoring or changing your emotions doesn\u2019t come easily, but meditation, exercise, and multiple basic exercises can help. What energies do you want in your world? List them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1700\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/what-we-can-do\/img_2656\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1920,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1627291245&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00069979006298111&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_2656\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?fit=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?fit=584%2C779&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1700\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656.jpeg?resize=225%2C300\" alt=\"Moxie Moves on coffee table\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?w=1168 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2656-scaled.jpeg?w=1752 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>Then go back to those little things we talk about in Spirit Moxie. If you have a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3tKXVzJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Moxie Moves: 10 easy ways to make a powerful difference,<\/i><\/a> go look at that list. It really is a start! Below I reiterate the 10 easy ways\u2014but in an order different from that in the book. (The number after a Move shows its order in the book. If there is a highlighted link, it goes to a Conversation post on the same topic.)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/smile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smiling<\/a> (1.) at people and things is a way to positively change energy as we go about our day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/gratitude-and-thanks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Being grateful<\/a> (2.) is another way to make it easier to have positive emotions.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cYou can\u2019t change the world unless you are willing to engage with yourself as well as whatever is around you.\u201d* Remember this engagement is all catching and a stronger you gives you more power. So, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/love-your-body\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">love your body<\/a> (7.), whatever it looks like or feels like. We are bodies and yours is worth love and care. With this, remember the importance of sleep (3.) which actually affects those around you as well as yourself. There are other Spirit Moxie Conversations not in the book that relate, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/brush-your-teeth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">brushing your teeth<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wash-your-hands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">washing your hands,<\/a> which we are constantly reminded are things that affect more than ourselves. There are two other chapters in the book that are more cerebral. Learn (5.) and play (10.).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>These two activities keep our minds active and curious, informing both our being and our doing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1702\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/what-we-can-do\/img_5486\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?fit=2054%2C1991&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2054,1991\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone XR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1716213386&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_5486\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?fit=300%2C291&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?fit=584%2C566&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1702\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?resize=300%2C291\" alt=\"Hand inserting ballot in ballot box\" width=\"300\" height=\"291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?resize=300%2C291&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?resize=1024%2C993&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?resize=768%2C744&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?resize=1536%2C1489&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?w=1168 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_5486.jpg?w=1752 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Then there are the concrete actions that make a difference as we can we clearly see. An area without litter (4.) is healthier and safer as well as more attractive (back to emotions!).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/keep-your-word\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keeping your word<\/a> (8.) presents a world that\u2019s trustworthy. Plus lying has a negative effect on your body so it, too, circles back. Listening (6.) and really, really hearing what others are saying rather than plotting our witty responses, whether we agree with them or not, lays a needed foundation for a better world. Plus, it circles back to learning and, for me, being grateful. Finally, there is the one thing that I\u2019m assuming is completely obvious. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vote<\/a> (9.) In the chapter on this action there is one more suggestion. Vote for yourself. Everyday. As someone who<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>matters. Let\u2019s start the Make a Difference party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">What you do matters.<\/p>\n<p>_________________________<\/p>\n<p>* <em><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3uSjoaM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moxie Moves: 10 easy ways to make a powerful difference<\/a>,<\/em> p. 56<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Images from the top:<br \/>\nDespondency\u00a0 \u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jessicalea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jessica Watkins DeWinter<\/a><br \/>\n<em>Moxie Moves<\/em> on table\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/marybarrrhodes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mary Barr Rhodes<\/a><br \/>\nVoting\u00a0 Spirit Moxie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What can we do????? If you feel uncertain about politics, violence, economics, the environment, or any other current issues, global and personal, you may also feel a tad helpless about \u201cthings.\u201d Perhaps as a reader or follower of Spirit Moxie, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/what-we-can-do\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[67,32,24,78],"class_list":["post-1697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","hentry","category-asides","tag-67","tag-making-a-difference","tag-positivity","tag-spirit-moxie","post_format-post-format-aside"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DJHl-rn","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1697"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1705,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions\/1705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spiritmoxie.com\/conversation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}