"Be The Drops"

Hello friends,

It's been about a year since my last podcast conversation with Sam Chavez at the roots of change agency. When we were talking about a follow-up, we discussed Black joy, rest, resistance and community, so naturally my sister Lisa Hurley had to be part of the conversation.

In this excerpt, we talk about abundance, our responsibility in these times and how we can view ourselves as part of a whole (with an analogy I'm pretty happy with). And we take a swipe at capitalism, too. Check out this excerpt from Sam's private podcast:

Sam: What you're describing is like abundance. We do have limited resources on a finite planet. But what is abundant is what we can give: our joy, how we love. And I think so many folks are afraid that if they give their pot will be empty,

Lisa: They're depleting themselves.

Sharon: That is not how it works. No, that is not how it works.

Lisa: Nature abhors a vacuum. As soon as you give, something is coming.

Sharon: The universe is abundant. And this is the thinking that is the antithesis of the capitalist mindset. Yes, once we realize that the universe is abundant, then that changes how we are able to show up. I'm not being unrealistic, right? We're still living in this capitalist hellscape. There are certain things that have to be done. Bills have to be paid.

Lisa: You gotta pay your bills. You gotta pay your bills.

Sharon: But still, given that, you know, there are ways that we can show up for people, there's support that we can give. You know, sometimes it's a repost, sometimes it's $10, sometimes it's an introduction. You know, there are things that we can do. We all have things that we can do.

Lisa: We all have things that we can do, contribute, give. All of us have something, all of us. Having money in the bank account and the abundance of the universe are two different things. You know, money is not the only wealth.

Sam: There are people who are very morally bankrupt and have a lot of money,

Sharon: They are sending rockets into space. They are deporting people. They are pulling up ladders and closing doors behind them. You know, they're doing all these kinds of things. And it is just, it's so inhumane. Really makes me sick. There is no need for anybody on the planet to be hungry. There is no need for anybody on the planet not to have shelter, right?

Lisa: Poverty actually does not need to exist. It really doesn't. I know that's beyond the scope of this show, but we're going to talk about all the things, right? But it really does not.

And yes, Sharon, you're right. There are people you know, tangerine hued people among others, who have means, right? And just are using their means and privilege in the worst possible ways.

But there is an alternate approach possible, you know. And so my thing is, just like, look around in your circle, right? Start small.

Sharon: The scale is so large, and then they get worried about that. But you know, what can you do where you are? Who's the person living next door to you that you can help? Yeah, on your online social network that you can help? On your team, in your office, who's that person?

We change the world by taking action where we are. Every drop leads to a trickle leads to a flood, leads to a whatever. You know, it's like water is in drops, but water created the Grand Canyon, right? That was water. That was drops of water working together. We can be the drops.

I hope you enjoyed that short excerpt. How does the idea of being one of the drops that leads to an anti-racist flood resonate with you?

You can listen to the first part of this conversation, about resilience, and support Sam’s work on the roots of change podcast page.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2025. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).