When I was in my late teens or early twenties, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t going to save the world.

I realized that not necessarily based on ability. I might have the ability to save the world.

However, based on my temperament and other things, I decided that what I should do instead is to help one person at a time. My focus, and my work, is to be there for other people, to work on an extremely local level.

My parents always volunteered. While they both had full-time jobs, they primarily volunteered at their church and sat on several different committees over the years.

My father was instrumental in ensuring that their church was one of the first churches in Minnesota to become open and affirming, that is, to allow gay couples to be married in their church.

Dad didn’t tell me that he was important to this cause. He’d probably have denied it, and just say that all he did was to sit on the committee. However, one of the other members of the church (an older, white, conservative woman) told me how moving it was to see this charming, white-haired gentleman standing up in front of the congregation and asking, “What’s wrong with love? Why can’t we let these people love?”

After they retired, my parents continued to do work in their church, but they volunteered other places as well. My mom was a docent at the local children’s museum. She helped out at the library. My dad tutored kids in math at an inner-city elementary school. They were part of every election, working at the polls. Every time the local community radio station had a fund raising drive, my parents worked the phone banks. And so on.

I’ve volunteered for various things for most of my life. Moving out to the property and then the plague put my volunteering on hold for a few years. However, I’m now at the local library one night per week, doing conversational English classes for people who have recently arrived in the country.

So, back to saving the world.

Right now, for many of us, we feel as though the entire world’s on fire. And it’s depressing and overwhelming and really scary and infuriating and all the things.

Maybe at this time, you’re struggling just to keep your own head above water. That’s perfectly fine. These are hard times. You need to take care of yourself first. (And remember, the first rule of self-care is setting boundaries. Draw your lines hard and keep your space sacred.)

Maybe, like me, you have a little bit of extra energy and head space right now. Just enough to help, but only in a small way. Helping out individuals is still valid. Go volunteer at your local food bank. Or in a school. Libraries, animal shelters, nursing homes, community programs—they all need volunteers. Do some searching and figure out what’s available near you. Then make sure that you pick something that suits you.

Maybe you can only go once a month. That’s okay. These places still need the help.

If you have more to give, without destroying yourself, do it. Maybe run for the local school board or the city council. Find a niche that you can plug into.

Hell, if you think you can save the world, more power to you.

As I said—that isn’t my place. I’m just here to help people. One at a time, or possibly in small groups.

What can you do?