What can I do to feel that I've really made a difference?

[Madeadifference]

I'm at a bit of crossroads. DC all grown and gone. I've had a good career, but probably progressed as far as I can/want to and a few years yet to retirement.

I've had a good life, I think I was/am a decent parent, I've been a contentious employee, a good boss, a good friend, worked for the last few years in a sector supporting troubled teens, I've done some volunteering for environmental, children's and homeless charities and worked as a volunteer sports coach.

But I don't feel that I've contributed anything that really matters. Nothing that wouldn't have happened anyway if I wasn't here.

I read about some characters from history and wonder how they crammed it all in. Churchill for example. All the politics, plus painting and writing. Even Boris! And how Da Vinci did it all or Mother Teresa?

What makes them so different to me and what project could I embark on now that would have some real impact?

I realise this is all a bit wild and very wide, I'm looking for ideas to be thrown out!

You sound as if you are having a ‘Wonderful Life’ moment. Watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and consider all the small things you have done for people - you say you’ve been a good friend and brought up your children as well as volunteering. It sounds as if you’ve contributed to the lives of many people. We can’t all be Churchill or Mother Theresa or invent the internet. You are asking too much of yourself.

I’d rather live in a world full of you than a world full of Boris or Churchill , put it that way 🤣. I think little things add up. Unless you have a true and burning passion to change something “big” it’s hard to find the drive to push through against all odds and deal with all the inevitable shit that will come with it.

would you consider being a volunteer for Homestart - using your experience of bringing up a family to help others?

This is trite, but I heard something once along the lines of 'you may not make a difference to the world, but you can make a world of difference to someone'.

A million people making a small difference has more overall impact than one major character.

pop over to the feminist bit and Become a feminist and protest the eradication of the word ‘women’ in our language for the sake of a teeny minority!

And sign this!docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG_4VdVBgRxL2A2deq4xxw7-xDjfUPmRvdXJvBNnmnoo8AJQ/viewform