Activism is a word that seems so large in nature. It wasn't until after i read Courtney Martins "Do It Anyway" , that i realized activism is so much more than i than i realized it was. To me activism was always the things you see on TV. The protestors laying in or lining the streets or those who put themselves in harms way. For some reason i never though of activism being small in nature. I never thought of myself as an activist, although i knew i was extremely passionate about things and did things to raise awareness.

In the book Courtney Martin suggests the older generation views todays activist as more passive, less involved and more self centered. My personal belief it that the older generation just doesn't view today's activist as such but also today's younger generations on a whole. I believe what today's older generation doesn't understand is that there is so much important stuff going on in the world with wars, ebola and such that news media does not report on much activism unless it seems it has to do with protestors in police brutality. Second, we live in an entirely different world than than our parents and grandparents. Technology has increased so much that studies were done and proved that alot of activism today revolves around use of social media. And finally i believe there is more happening in terms of activism on smaller scales with volunteering in local communities , etc.

I related most to Maricela Guzman, her story tugged at my heart and she turned a tragic life altering event into something she could make a difference in other peoples lives. That is exactly how I became active and passionate about something. For Maricela is was being raped for me it was having my whole life turned upside when my husband passed away at the age of 26 leaving me with a 2 yr old and then again just 18 months ago when i lost someone i loved from cancer. Sometimes you have to experience pain and heartache to be able to make the time in our busy lives to make a difference.

How i feel today on activisim is that we don't need to be out there lining the streets or hugging the trees. We can be making a difference in small gestures of kindness. We can pay it forward, we can make a donation to a worthy cause or we can volunteer our time in our communties. Activism is about making or promoting change. To try to make the world a little bit better than when we first were born. Sometimes just a kind word to someone is enough to facilitate a positive change that will have a steam roll effect.