Change Starts With Me
Have you ever heard a quote that makes you pause and think? For me, it was hearing Andy Stanley's quote, "do for one what you wish you could do for everyone," while watching a church sermon. Reflecting on my own life, I had teachers, mentors, union comrades, friends, and colleagues who constantly motivated me to strive for more—even in the moments when I doubted myself. They poured into me, mentored me, and guided me. As a result, their influence has made my life journey more rewarding and purposeful.
Hearing this quote reaffirmed my desire to give back to the community, use my talents to advocate for change, support society’s most marginalized and open doors of opportunity for others. While I know I can't solve all the world's problems, as this quote suggests, I can start small—by planting seeds in a few, watering them, and producing fruit. If I can transform the lives of a few, then I hope others will reap the benefits from my harvest.
To embody this quote, I first need to accept where I am and envision where I want to go. It means a call for change and stepping out of my comfort zone. Accepting where I'm at acknowledges that change doesn't come easily to me. I struggle with the uncertainty of what the future holds. Change means taking a risk, being challenged, disrupting systems, breaking patterns, shifting relationships, and overcoming obstacles. At times, my fears, my inner critic, and my overthinking paralyze my ability to act.
Envisioning where I want to go means I need to use my fears to drive my faith, use my pain to build resilience, use rejection to bring me clarity, use my imperfections to strive for growth and use obstacles to guide my purpose. The shift in mindset will define where I need to go while moving with grace and compassion.
Embracing change may require trusting my abilities, navigating through the discomfort, letting go of things that no longer serve me, being open to new challenges, and, most importantly, taking a leap of faith. I know change can be daunting, but I see the vision. I see the harvest. The quote “do for one what you wish you could do for everyone,” inspires me to be better, and do better—not just for myself, but for the one who will benefit from it the most.
-Brianna Plummer