Advocacy: One Person Can Make a Difference

John F. Kennedy once said, "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."

The world is such an enormous place that we often fall into the trap of thinking that what we say and do has little to no importance. But as you read this article, I challenge you to open yourself up to the idea that everything you say and do will most definitely have a ripple effect that will leave its mark in history.

Stories are what I live for

We currently live in a world that doesn’t necessarily allow us to feel unique or even significant. It feels as though everything has been said and done, so what could we possibly have to say that will be of any importance?

Having studied history for my university degree, it’s an understatement to say that stories are what I live for. Many people view history as the most "boring" subject of them all, but like anything in life, it’s all about perspective. History is nothing but the study of real-life stories and experiences.

There are two sides to the coin

As a narcolepsy advocate, there are many times when I question if I’m actually making any real difference, or if I’m just deluding myself into thinking that I am. Whenever these thoughts pop into my head, I like to think of people that I learned about in history.

I think of people like Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Oskar Schindler, whose actions profoundly impacted generations to come in amazing ways. However, I also like to think about something that some people may not understand, but that I believe is essential to really grasping the fact that one person can make all the difference.

I like to think of the other side of the coin, too, because thinking of these great people could actually make you feel inadequate, since you may feel as though you can never measure up. So, instead, I think of people like Josef Stalin, Josef Mengele, and Adolf Hitler. It may seem strange, but just imagine how different the world would be if these people had never existed.

This is what truly reminds me of the difference one single person can make.

'Share a story to change a story'

With that being said, it’s not only history that proves this to us. I can name numerous people that have made a profound difference in my personal life, both good and bad. I’m grateful for both, because without them, I would not be who I am today. I’m sure that if you look back on your life, you will find at least one person who has made a difference in yours.

So why do we fall into that trap? Why do we believe that we have no power to make a difference? That what we say doesn't matter?

Advocacy is only one way to make a difference, and advocacy can be done in so many ways that don’t even have to involve social media if that's not something that you are comfortable with. I aim to create a collection of articles entirely dedicated to advocacy in the hopes of empowering others that may not believe that their story matters. I live by the motto that I created for my blog: "Share a story to change a story."

'I cannot do everything, but I can do something'

To conclude, I leave you with another one of my favourite quotes: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." (Edward Everett Hale).

How do you advocate for yourself or for the narcolepsy community in your daily life? Have you ever been inspired by a person with narcolepsy? Share with us in the comments below!