examples of good trouble

Hi folks. I’m going to mix things up today. Instead of my own contemplation or coaching, I thought it would be fun to share some examples of good trouble, using John Lewis’ words, that folks are getting into nowadays or that you might want to try.

One yellow flower in foreground, green and other flowers behind it and all in front of a fence.

Photo of yellow wildflowers in front of fence (photo by Jamie Feinberg)

I’ve shared similar lists before and will again. Feel free to add to this list with your own suggestions.

Enjoy some encouraging words, and perhaps it will inspire you in your own life!

Types of good trouble:

Participate in a protest
Organize a protest
Boycott a business
Financially support causes and people that you care about
Overlook a problematic rule or law when circumstances allow
Use your privilege to stand up for a stranger
Share human stories that don’t get mass media coverage (ex. stories from Palestinian voices, stories from transgender voices and families of transgender youth, stories from immigrants, stories from unhoused people, stories from undocumented people, stories from people of color)
Amplify the work of others that deserves more attention on it
Stand up to ICE
Volunteer
Paint some rainbow sidewalks! Use flags and stickers as well as your words to show folks you’re truly an ally.
Go beyond Do No Harm
Continue to contact your representatives and hold them accountable
Fact-check statistics and stories
Dig deeper into where white nationalism comes from, what anti-semitism is and isn’t, what it means to support and lift up and protect BIPOC communities etc.
Work to dismantle your own internalized racism, ableism etc.
Choose presence over judgement, choose love over fear
Support reproductive rights locally or nationally