Yes. You and I Can Make a Difference.

Greetings, Friendlies. :)

Recently a friend was expressing… shall we say… “dissatisfaction” regarding “events” taking place in Washington DC.

I empathize.

My friend lamented, “There’s nothing we can do.”

I disagree. And in the spirit of Silly T-shirt Friday, would like to highlight some do-good merch.

Many of us in the dhamma take a more subtle approach to our public displays. We maybe aren’t so interested in being a walking billboard for Nike or Coach or SportsTeam.

But maybe it’s time for a re-think. Monastics, those paragons of demure-ness, really put themselves out there. They are walking billboards for a particular way of life, a particular set of values. A bald-headed ochre-robed person sandal-ing through downtown Seattle is not subtle.

So what about us?

I was in a park recently sporting this hat. Just hangin’. A few yards away was a big dude. Tall, broad shouldered. Solid dude. He appeared to be in moderate distress. Face troubled, tight body language, pacing back and forth. After a bit, Big Dude walks over to me and, assuming a surprisingly submissive posture, apologetically says, “I need help. Ca… can you help me?”

Was it only a bright orange “Do Good” hat that led Big Dude to approach me? Probably not. I’m small-ish, physically unintimidating, maybe sporting that little metta-buddha-smile. But the bright orange “Do Good” hat is a signal. I am advertising myself as someone around whom others can feel safe in their vulnerability. I am a walking billboard for SAFETY and KINDNESS and HELPFULNESS.

And of course, I did help. And we had a little adventure. And Big Dude promised to pay it forward.

Am I recommending that you purchase and wear a bright orange Do Good hat? Not necessarily.

What I am recommending is that you inquire if there is a way that you could feel comfortable advertising yourself as a locus of safety and kindness and helpfulness.

A thought experiment:

A young person who identifies as LGBTQ+ walks into a random coffee shop. Or a grocery store. Or whatever. And everyone in the shop is wearing this pin:

Sure, there is still a lot of bizarre legislation being tossed around. But in this moment, in this physical analog space, this young person (or whatever person) can physically feel safe(r). The lower level of Maslow’s hierarchy can be met(ish). And all it takes is a pretty piece of flare.

Or maybe you live somewhere where migration rights are causing stress.

Or maybe you want to express your care for all the colors of the melatonin rainbow.

Or maybe you just want to more generally normalize kindness.

Monastics are not subtle. Maybe it’s time we take a little of that on ourselves.

Also, sweet do-good merch! [1]

With friendliness. :)

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[1] Yes. Of course. Writing to representatives. Showing up for protests. Wise communication. All the things. And this, too.