How to actually make a difference in the world

ABC 212: On moral injury and starting where you are

In the labor world, moral injury occurs when you do or witness something that violates the values you hold deeply. It can lead to burnout, depression, and suicidality.

But what happens when moral injury exists on a societal level? Regardless of which issue you care about most, to be alive in 2025 almost certainly means living in a world of moral injury.

One way to combat the foreboding sense that we’re all screwed is to focus on your immediate sphere of influence. This week’s article is a great example of someone doing just that.

In a world where so much is broken, Amanda Barrows, a park ranger in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, has taken an unconventional approach to the homelessness crisis. Reading the piece filled me with a sense of hope. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Here’s the piece: Her job is to remove homeless people from SF’s parks. Her methods are extraordinary.

Warmly,
Simo 

P.S. The song of the week is a classic funk track. The full songs of the week playlist is here.