…and then there are days when a colleague in your percussion studio asks you for recommendations on academic resources relating to feminism because they are interested in learning more.

Many days being an activist/critical thinker are frustrating. Activist Burnout Is Real. We can’t reach everyone, I can’t reach everyone. It’s been an uphill battle (that I may or may not still be in the midst of) learning which conversations have the potential to be productive, and which ones will only leave me with yet another glass of wine when I get home.

But it’s not all bad! Sometimes you reach people. Sometimes just by talking about these things, individuals come to you for guidance (or just an open mind for listening) when facing something they’re unfamiliar with maybe regarding their sexuality or of that a loved one. And sometimes you get the warm-fuzzies because someone (who you didn’t know was really at all interested) asked you where they can learn more. It’s hope for me that things will change. It’s hope that maybe I actually can make a difference. It’s hope for me that this world will get better.