You can't stop war, but you can help your community

While President Donald Trump initiated war against Iran recently, my family was out volunteering at our local community garden. Another war weighs heavy on me, but I know I do not control military orders. I cannot make Trump adhere to the Constitution and get a proper declaration of war from Congress. Nor can I control how Congress responds, or in this case, chooses not to respond. But I can pick up a rake and help my community prepare a garden for spring and feed our neighbors. Trump, with the help of a GOP-dominated Congress, has stripped billions of dollars from healthcare and SNAP benefits with the passing of the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act. This administration focuses their energy and funding on playing unnecessary war games both domestically and abroad. Meanwhile, we still have food deserts in our communities. We have children and seniors going hungry. Too many of our families have to rely on cheap, ultraprocessed foods with subpar nutrition. What can I do? I can call my elected officials. I can voice my concern for the decisions our president and Congress make. I can vote accordingly. I can also turn off social media. Doomscrolling to the point of despair and wallowing in my own helplessness does no one any good. We are not helpless. For every decision that is made outside of our control, there is an organization or community effort to address the very real needs that result from those bad decisions. Put down your phone. Turn off the television. That hour of content consumption is better spent in human spaces. You get to choose where you focus your energy. Commenting into the void to feed a manipulative algorithm will only lead you to hate bots and internet trolls. Wouldn't you rather get involved with something in your community that interests you? Register people to vote, walk a shelter dog or plant some vegetables at your local community garden. Go support the next author event at your local bookstore or library. Just get out of your house. Don't let the digital world trick you into thinking that it's real life. It's not. The more AI infiltrates every digital interaction we have, the more you'll need the wherewithal to walk away and remember what humanity feels like. Go see what we humans are capable of when we work together. Real life is out there waiting for you, beyond your front door. Out there is where you'll find out that you really do matter. Someone will be grateful that you showed up to lend a helping hand or to show your support. You make a difference in your community just by being there. You just have to be willing to go.