Finding Your Tribe
There is so much talk these days about finding our tribe. All over Instagram, we see posts about creating our “ride or die” group of friends, the ones who will have our backs no matter what and who are fighting for the same things as us. That couldn’t be truer than when it comes to our advocacy. We don’t have to fight for justice alone--in fact, we can’t fight for it alone. We need people around us to cheer us on, to pick us up and dust us off when we fall down, and to encourage us to keep fighting when we want to give up. It’s a long road that we’ve chosen to walk in our fight for the freedom, but it can be made less lonely when we bring people into our lives who will walk alongside us.
The campaign for justice can be extremely tough on our own. It’s easy to become discouraged when it feels like you’re losing an uphill battle, or when it seems like no one is listening. There comes a point when our own strength runs out, and it’s at that point that we need a helping hand from those around us. These are the moments when we need that trusted friend, partner, or family member to step in and remind us of what we’re fighting for, and to point out how far we’ve already come.
When we have other people by our side it not only makes advocacy easier, but it can also make it more fun. It takes the pressure off of you to do everything yourself. Instead of the result and the level of recognition landing squarely on your shoulders and yours alone, the load is spread out. One person would quickly become discouraged by trying to move a boulder all by themselves, but with a team of people around them, the boulder will begin to move. We’re not meant to go on this crusade alone, we are meant to stand strong with those around us, and to rely on them when we are feeling weak or when things get tough.
When strong like-minded people get together to oppose injustice they become a force to be reckoned with. Surrounding ourselves with fellow abolitionists creates an atmosphere where encouragement can be thrown around like confetti, support can be shared, and ideas can be bounced around.
During my Dressember campaign, there were times when it felt like I wasn't making much of a difference and that my voice wasn't being heard. It was during these times that friends and family would gather around me and lift me up. Sometimes all it takes is for one person to tell you that your post touched them or that you opened their eyes and hearts to something they previously hadn't thought about to restore your passion and drive. Without my friends and family, I don't know if I would have had the motivation to make it through the month. But with them cheering me on I felt like my voice was being heard and my message was being received. Having my fearless tribe band around me pushed me to stretch myself, speak a little louder and advocate a little more boldly.
You can find these fellow advocates right amongst the relationships that you already have, or you could reach out to a fellow Dressember member who lives near you. From pre-existing relationships to the blossoming of new ones, there are numerous ways for you to create and grow your tribe. We all have one huge thing in common: we want to see an end to modern day slavery! And it is that objective, that conviction, which allows for us to connect easily with like-minded people. We all need a little help from our friends sometimes, and sometimes our friends will need a little help from us. But that’s what we’re all here for, to support each other!
Whether it’s your fellow Dressember teammates, friends from school, a significant other, or fellow family members, there are countless people around you that want to support you. So let’s go out and find our tribe. Let’s find the people who will run into the battle with us. The ones that will raise their voices and join the choir. The ones that will support and encourage and embolden us in our fight for justice! And let us become those people for our fellow advocates as well.
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XO
About the Author
Katherina Toews sees the world mostly from between the ears of a horse, and wouldn’t want it any other way. She believes that there is nothing that can’t be fixed by sharing tea, chocolate chip cookies, and a good black and white movie with friends. Katherina is currently working outdoors helping people realize their full potential with the assistance of horses.