"But then I remember..."
People are reframing the mundane as meaningful – and it's helping them push through hopelessness.
What’s going on?
Too tired to do homework? Remember that education is a privilege and a form of resistance.
Don’t want to go to work? Think of the women who fought for equal pay.
Not in the mood to study? Remember that certain men’s biggest fear is an educated Black woman.
Don’t want to go to the function? Remind yourself that building a village means showing up.
What’s driving it?
Because everything is political – and people are becoming more aware of it. Just last week, Pew found that 42% of US social media users “say the sites are important for them getting involved with political, social issues.”
Similarly, the British Social Attitudes survey reports a steady rise in concern over issues like the NHS, climate change, and the economy – and they’re all recognized as political issues.
This also means that people are expecting more institutions (and individuals) to declare their politics – and they’re connecting even the smallest choices to bigger systems.
What does it mean?
The posts are a mix of earnest, historical, and sometimes a little petty – but they all tie the mundane to a wider meaning. In a moment when people feel small against massive systems, reframing everyday actions as part of something bigger (with a bit of resistance) becomes a spark of agency. Even if you can’t fix everything, you can still do this one thing – and that matters.
Final takeaway
Serious or petty, even the tiniest acts can help people find agency – provided they can see how they’re linked to a bigger story.