Just Because You Carry It Well Doesn't Mean It's Not Heavy

The Green Backpack, Tired Legs, and Why I Think You’re Doing a Great Job

It’s a bit like these two donkeys are walking along the bridge, and one of them doesn’t have anything on his back and the other one is covered with packages and bales and bundles. The first donkey says, “Jesus, that’s quite a load you got on.” And the second donkey says, “What load?” You get used to it. ~Stephen King

When I was in law school (mumble mumble years ago), I carried a green backpack.

I was sortof known for it, to be honest.

Every afternoon, I’d fill it up with every textbook I had, so I could study that night. Contracts, Property, Civil Procedure, Torts, Criminal Law… every single one of them went into that forest green backpack with the black straps.

Now, law school textbooks are big books (or, at least, they were at the time), so fitting them all in was like playing a game of Jenga. I had a certain way I’d pack them in, or the zipper wouldn’t close.

Then I’d hoist that backpack up onto my shoulders, power myself up the staircase, and set off on the two mile walk to my off-campus parking space.

Later, I learned that my classmates joked that my overstuffed backpack made me look like a turtle. (They did not appreciate my dedication to studying.)

Obviously, carrying that much weight wasn’t especially easy. (For reference, I’m 5’4″ and 100 lbs soaking wet.) In fact, I remember that the first few times I loaded up that backpack, my arms shook.

But by the end of the first semester, I didn’t even notice it.

Your legs get used to the weight. Your back settles in and gets comfortable with the pressure. Your arms strengthen. Throwing that backpack into the backseat starts to feel more like a good stretch than a struggle.

The whole process, the effort, the “workout” becomes not just easier – but in many ways, welcome.

But it is still an effort.

You know, I could have said to heck with it and left some of those books in my locker. The world would not have ended it I didn’t study Contracts and Property and Torts and Civ Pro every night.

But then I would have felt less prepared.

I accepted the extra weight on my shoulders because I wanted to be sure I was doing everything I could – in that moment – to succeed.

I was cleaning out some boxes in the basement recently, and ran across one of my old textbooks. It made me think about that backpack. That heavy weight.

And the heavy weight that we’ve been carrying over the last few years – and the extra weight that’s been piled on over the last few months.

It’s a heavy backpack that we’ve all been carrying. You might have crammed more into yours than you thought possible. There have been plenty of times you could have cast it off your shoulders.

Friend, I know your legs are tired.

You could have checked out, gone home, stopped listening, stopped opening emails, stopped paying attention. Nobody would have blamed you.

That you didn’t – that you haven’t – is impressive stuff.

And although your legs have gotten used to the weight, and your back has gotten used to the pressure, and your arms have gotten stronger … it is still an effort.

I just wanted to acknowledge that. I wanted to acknowledge your strength, the power you’ve developed over the years … and the exhaustion you have earned.

I think it’s pretty disingenuous for anyone to expect you to charge on cheerfully and shrug off the reality that we’re going through one of the toughest times in American – and world – history. I think it can be deflating when folks expect constant, boundless energy and don’t appreciate and validate the fatigue.

I also think it can be counterproductive to focus only on the exhaustion.

So today, I just wanted to tell you a story about a very heavy green backpack, and how many years ago a young woman carried it every day so she’d feel the comfort that comes from knowing she was doing everything she could during a really stressful time.

I think you have a lot in common with her.

And, by the way, I think you’re doing a great job.

In solidarity, friend.

Let’s get to work.

Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

Actions for the Week of July 15, 2025

Friend, things may be heavy – but you can lighten that load by doing something small – a “small deed” – to bring about the world that you want to see. In doing so we tell the world, the universe, our leaders – and most importantly, ourselves – that we will not go quietly into that good night.

I call it Action Therapy.

That’s why in each Tuesday post I share a few “small things” – usually a Small Thing to Read, a Small Event to Attend, and a Small Call to Make or Action to Take. My intention here is to give you actions you can tuck into your week with ease – and know that you’re doing something today to make tomorrow better.

Join me in doing so. It matters.

Small Call to Make or Action to Take: Good Trouble Lives On

Yes, this could go in “event to attend,” but it’s also an action (and there are so many events this week!).

July 17 is a national day of action and protest. Folks will be joining together to continue to protest the Trump administration and get into the “good trouble” that Congressman John Lewis so rightly encouraged. Learn more and find an event near you at: https://goodtroubleliveson.org/

Help spread the word!

Small Events to Attend: Jess Craven + National Democratic Training Committee Training + Indivisible Weekly “What’s the Plan”

First, Jess Craven is joining Commit to Democracy’s town hall today at 4pm pacific (that’s 7pm eastern). I know that’s short notice since it’s happening tonight, but if you have a moment you should come! Here’s the description:

CTD is proud to announce Jessica Craven, author of Chop Wood, Carry Water is returning to CTD for a Virtual Town Hall on July 15th at 4 PM PST. Jessica is one of the most inspiring activists of our time. Most of us wake up each day to her calls to action. She provides endless energy to her work to save our Democracy and unite us all in daily action. Join us for time together where Jessica will share her most current thoughts and calls to action as well as allow our community to ask her questions in a moderated Q&A session. Sign up today!

Sign up to join here.

Second, the wonderful folks at NDTC host truly wonderful (completely free) trainings – and this Thursday they’re hosting a training that will help you learn how to use peer-to-peer texting in your organizing. Sign up for that here. But they’ve got oodles of other trainings coming up – including how to canvass in rural America. Check out the full calendar of options here.

And third, Indivisible founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg are hosting their weekly breakdown and action plan on Thursday with Erica Chenowith as their guest. It’s at 3pm eastern. Sign up here.

Small Thing to Read: HRC Is On Fire Today

Fun fact: I start my day (every day) with Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From an American. They combat the news whirlwind by grounding me in facts and historical context. Today’s Letter is a masterful, but brief, historical summary of immigration in the U.S. If you haven’t read it (and you likely already have) I hope you’ll read it (link is here), and share widely. Also subscribe if you don’t already.

July 14, 2025

Thanks for reading, friend – I’m glad to see you here! You’re making a difference, I promise.

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