Trathen Heckman, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Daily Acts, published a book called Take Heart, Take Action. Equal parts inspirational stories and practical guidelines, read an excerpt here…
We are in an interesting moment. Fully of beauty and hurt, uncertainty and unbound potential. So many are reeling from wave after wave of difficulty in recent years. And yet the sun still shines, the rains still rain (sometimes), and blossoms and seeds quietly swell until they burst through the surface with spring’s verdant emergence. Though you may feel beleaguered and worn thin at times, the season and this big planetary moment calls us to rise. But how do we do so in a world of so many overwhelmingly large crises?
What if the power of small could change it all?
What if small daily acts of courage and conviction, small groups of unstoppable world-changers and even small regenerative gardens could help transform your life, community and the world? The simple truth is that there has never been a time when our small acts and small groups have mattered more. But we gotta believe and lean in, and sometimes let our hearts break. Because this is how the light gets in.
Take Heart, Take Action is about finding where your heart’s inspiration meets the hurt you are called to heal. It’s the journey of finding your path, your people, and a good compass to guide you. The structure and flow is a simple, time-tested formula, Daily Acts’ values and operating principles: Reverence + Ripples + Relationships = Resilience. Reverence is about waking up and following our hearts. Once awake, Ripples are the actions we take to find our vision, voice, and power. Relationships are about creating and nurturing community because that’s how our planet works. What comes of this is a Resilience we live and build by waking and taking action in right relation to our people and planet, day after day.
As people, organizations, and movements rise to this moment and prioritize nurturing networks, regenerating ecosystems, and unleashing the power of community, the small, engaged groups in every place are essential. Your daily acts are essential. And the power of small is bigger than you think. It’s time to rise. As we say at Daily Acts: take heart, take part, take action.