by Trisha Jacobson

Some days, it feels like the world is stuck on repeat—the same fights, the same exhaustion, the same struggle just to be seen, heard, and valued.Why are we still having to prove that we deserve dignity? That our existence isn’t up for debate? That our rights aren’t bargaining chips for politicians focused on money and power?We’re so done with this cycle. But being "done" isn’t enough. The real question is: How do we build a future where we don’t have to keep fighting for our humanity?

1. Stop Seeking Validation from a Broken System

One of the biggest lies we’ve been told is that we need permission to exist. That if we just explain ourselves well enough, if we find the "right words," if we appeal to logic or empathy, people in power will finally see our worth and our politicians will vote accordingly.Spoiler alert! They see it. They just don’t want to acknowledge it. Because their power depends on keeping us fighting for scraps instead of building something new.So what if we stop asking? Stop explaining? Stop waiting for validation from systems designed to suppress us?What if, instead, we claim our space, own our power, and fully embrace our right to exist as we are—without apology, without justification, without compromise and without fear.

2. Shift from Resistance to Creation

Fighting against something still gives it energy. What if, instead of spending all our time reacting to injustice, we put that energy into creating a world where justice is the norm?

• Instead of waiting for corrupt leaders to change, we build new leadership models.
• Instead of hoping the media stops spreading division, we create and amplify voices that uplift and empower.
• Instead of trying to reform institutions that were never built for us, we invest in parallel systems that center humanity over power.

Resistance is important. But intentional creation is how we win.

3. Reclaim the Narrative

The biggest tool of oppression is the story we are told about ourselves. The story that is being told now:

• That we are powerless.
• That we are too divided to create change.
• That the way things are is the way they will always be.

All lies—every single one designed to keep us right where those seeking more money and power would like us to stay. What if we rewrite the story? What if we tell the truth—that we are powerful, that we are united, that we are the future?We don’t have to wait for the mainstream to catch up. We tell our own stories, in our own way, and make them impossible to ignore.

4. Build Communities that Make Oppression Irrelevant

Oppressive systems thrive on isolation. They want us to feel alone, powerless, disconnected.So we do the opposite: we build community.

• Spaces where people feel safe to exist as they are.
• Networks of mutual support that don’t rely on corrupt institutions.
• Movements rooted in action, not just awareness.

United we stand. Divided we fall. When we stand together, the system loses its grip. 

5. Envision the World We Want (Then Start Living Like It’s Already Here)

Decide what we want. Imagine it in every detail. What does that look like? What does it feel like. And then, the most radical act? Living our lives like the future we envision already exists.

• Treat people with the dignity they deserve—even when the world doesn’t.
• Create spaces where justice, compassion, and humanity are non-negotiable.
• Hold onto joy, because joy itself is resistance.
• Practice gratitude for the simple things on a daily basis. And then expand gratitude using the Uncommon Appreciation process described here.

We’re not just here to fight against a broken world. We are here to build a new one!And when we do that?The old systems won’t just crumble—they’ll become irrelevant.

So let’s talk about it! Let's decide what we want! And let's start creating it!

What does a world without this fight look like to you? How do we build it? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, or join us here for the next Conversations That Matter where we dive deep into how we make this shift—for real, for good, and for and with each other.

Because we are the future. And we are so done waiting for it to arrive.

by Starr P.

Some days, it feels like the world is unraveling. Hate is louder than ever, fear fuels division, and people in power cling to outdated systems that no longer serve humanity.

I look around and see the same battles I’ve been fighting my entire life—justice for the marginalized, dignity for those erased, and the right to exist without fear. It’s exhausting. And yet, I keep fighting. 
I fight because I’ve seen what happens when people give up. 

I spent years in the military hiding who I was, terrified that being my true self would mean losing everything. I witnessed women being raped, silenced, and discarded. I saw people take their own lives because they were told—explicitly or implicitly—that who they were wasn’t acceptable, that their existence was a problem. That level of pain and injustice is something you don’t just forget. It carves into your soul, and once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. 

So I fight. Not because it’s easy. Not because I always feel hopeful. But because the alternative—silence, apathy, complicity—is unacceptable. I fight because I know what it feels like to be othered. To be cast aside, to be treated as less than human, to be told that my love, my existence, my identity is wrong. And I fight because I never want another person to feel that way. 

Every single person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. No exceptions. I fight because I believe that change doesn’t just happen—it’s created. It’s built by those of us who refuse to accept the status quo. It’s pushed forward by voices that won’t be silenced, by people who refuse to let hate win. And even when it feels like we’re losing ground, I remind myself of this: Every movement, every fight for justice, has had its moments of darkness before the breakthrough. 

Civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights—none of these battles were won easily. But they were won because people refused to give up. I fight because I believe in the world we are creating. A world where dignity, humanity, justice, respect, and compassion are not just words, but a way of life. A world where people no longer live in fear of being themselves. A world where future generations don’t have to fight these same damn battles over and over again. 

And when the exhaustion creeps in, when the weight of it all feels unbearable, I go back to the simplest truth I know: We are the light in the darkness. And as long as we keep shining, hope is never lost. So I keep going. Because the world I’m fighting for is worth it.

by Trisha J.

Fear often gets a bad rap. We’re told to conquer it, push through it, or pretend it doesn’t exist. Fear can make us fight. It can make us freeze in our tracks. It can make us run and hide. It can even stop us from doing what we know, deep down, is the best thing we can do to support our growth. But what if fear isn’t the enemy? What if, instead of avoiding it, we leaned into it and let it show us the way? 

Amelia Earhart once said, “Use your fear, it can take you to the place where you store your courage.” That’s not just a poetic turn of phrase; it’s a call to action. Fear is often the doorway to something greater—our courage, resilience, and deepest truths. The problem is, most of us spend so much time trying to outrun fear that we never stop to see what fear is trying to teach us.

Fear isn’t just a reaction; it’s a signal. It tells us where we feel vulnerable, where we doubt ourselves, and where we have room to grow. If we listen closely, fear can become a guide instead of an obstacle.Think about a time you felt scared to take a leap—maybe leaving a job, speaking your truth, starting something new. That fear wasn’t just a warning; it was also a sign that you were on the edge of something important. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s what happens when you move forward despite fear.

We don’t magically become brave. Courage is built in the moments when we choose to walk through our fear instead of away from it. Every time we use fear as a tool for growth, we add to our reservoir of courage. We realize that we’ve faced hard things before and survived. We learn that fear doesn’t have to paralyze us—it can actually propel us.

So, how do we actually use our fear?

1. Name It. Get clear on what you’re afraid of. Sometimes, just saying it out loud takes away some of its power. Sometimes sharing it with another person takes away even more of its power. 
2. Question It. Ask yourself: Is this fear protecting me, or is it keeping me stuck? Not all fear is bad, but not all of it is necessary either.
3. Shift Your Perspective. Instead of seeing fear as a stop sign, view it as a flashlight pointing to where you need to grow.
4. Take One Step. Courage isn’t about massive leaps. It’s built one small, deliberate action at a time. Choose one thing you can do today that moves you toward what scares you.
5. Look Back. Remind yourself of past moments when you felt fear but kept going anyway. Let those victories remind you that you are stronger than your doubts.

Fear, when harnessed, can be used as fuel. It sharpens us, forces us to grow, and shows us what we care about most. When we use fear as fuel, instead of running from it, we take back our power. We reclaim the parts of ourselves that have been buried under hesitation and self-doubt.This isn’t about being fearless—it’s about being brave enough. Brave enough to stand in our truth. Brave enough to use our voices, even when remaining silent seems easier. Brave enough to show up fully and authentically, even when our hands shake, our voices tremble and hiding in plain sight seems like the easier path.So the next time fear rises up, don’t push it away. Follow it. Let it take you to the place where you store your courage. And then—be brave enough to use it.

by Starr P.

The recent decision to once again ban transgender individuals from serving in the military has left me reeling. It’s not just about policy—it’s about people, real people whose lives are being tossed aside as if their service, their sacrifices, their very existence means nothing. And for me, a gay woman, it’s personal.

I served in the military during a time when being openly gay was a crime. Not just frowned upon—an actual crime. A reason to be dishonorably discharged. A reason to have everything you worked for ripped away. A reason to live in constant fear. The threat of being thrown in jail with murderers and other high level criminals. Or being kicked out because of who I am was not some distant, theoretical danger—it was my daily reality. I lived it. I survived it. But I saw too many who didn’t.In those days, silence was the price of survival. Women, especially, bore the brunt of it. 

Rape was rampant, yet to report it meant risking your own career, your own safety. Many times, the perpetrators were superior officers, the very people we were supposed to trust. I witnessed women swallowed whole by a system that refused to hear them, refused to protect them, refused to acknowledge them at all. I saw their despair turn to resignation, and in too many cases, I saw it turn to suicide.

The weight of those silences still lingers in my heart. The countless unspoken stories, the whispered fears, the brave faces hiding unbearable pain. And now, history is repeating itself in a cruel and unnecessary way. The message being sent is the same: If you don’t fit the mold, if you are different, you do not belong. Your service, your dedication, your willingness to lay down your life for your country—it does not matter.

As the Chicks once sang, “I’m not ready to make nice, I’m not ready to back down.”

That song became an anthem for those of us who refuse to be silenced, who refuse to conform to the expectations of a world that seeks to erase us. I carried that song in my heart through dark times, through moments when I wondered if fighting was even worth it. 

But it is. It always is.

To those who have never had to hide who they are, it might be easy to dismiss this as just another political move. Thats not it! 

To those of us who have lived through it, who have fought to exist in a world that tried to erase us, this is not just policy. It is personal. It is a betrayal. And it is dangerous.We have come too far to allow fear and discrimination to win again. I refuse to stay silent. I refuse to let another generation of service members suffer the same wounds, endure the same injustices. 

To all the individuals who are being told they are not welcome, I see you. I honor you. And I will fight for you, just as I have fought for myself and for those who never got the chance to see the day when they could serve openly. Because no one should have to choose between their identity and their service. No one should have to suffer in silence. And no one should have to fight for a country that refuses to fight for them. No one should be in such desperation they choose to end their life.

And to those who think we should just accept this, I say again—I’m not ready to make nice. I will not back down!

If you're wondering about the song that Starr is referring to in the video above, it is

I'm Not Ready to Make Nice by The Chicks.

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/pojL_35QlSI?si=dwjhkCtVu9_NsnnV