Shame

Shame is one of the most powerful and dangerous emotions we carry. In short, shame is a feeling of not being valid. It makes us feel unworthy, wrong, isolated and paralyzed. 

Shame is not logical. It can be "activated" by anything. We might feel it because we struggle with something others find easy, because we have a different past, different hobbies, or don’t earn as much. Maybe we feel ashamed because of how we look, think, feel, or because we don’t fit into certain cultural norms. Maybe we have mental or physical disabilities. Maybe we eat meat or drive a car, or we don't go to protests, or can't seem to change certain habits even if we wanted to. 

What we need to remember is that we are all valid.
Not everything we do is okay. We all make mistakes. We all do things that hurt others and the planet. 

We can still be accountable and take responsibility for our actions or inactions. But, feeling shame can hold us back from taking any steps towards change. Before we can really act, we need to feel valid. 

You can demand climate action and still drive a car. What matters is that you take the next step when the chance comes. We are the stars in the sky, small glints of hope.