 In order to contribute to systems change, we have to participate in a process of change that's a lot bigger than ourselves. One of the concepts that I work with is that our systems are built on a foundation of our stories, the foundation of our narratives of our mythology. And that is part of a larger state of being that we participate in collectively. So how do we change this state of being? How do we change the basic story that underlies neoliberal economics and, and user-based capitalism, for example? Well, part of that story is the story of me versus you, us versus them, the competing separate self. Everybody's in it for themselves. Everybody's trying to get the best deal. Nobody cares about each other. That is part of the, of the foundation of economics as we know it. In fact, it's in economics textbooks. Human beings are motivated to maximize rational self-interest. That's fundamental to the study of economics. So anything that we do in the world that subverts that perception, i.e., any act of generosity, kindness, solidarity, taking care of each other, that subverts the story on a deep level. So in fact, these, the ways that people generously, courageously, selflessly address the problems that are in front of them in the system as we know it, in the real world, the ways that they address those things contribute to changing our experience of life and altering the foundation of the story of separation and of our economic system. So the paradox is actually a, and it's, I won't say it's an illusion, but it's a gateway to a deeper understanding. Now, I'm not saying that you should ignore any kind of big picture activism and only focus on the needs in front of your face. Because our understanding of what is needed is influenced by our broader understanding of systems. So for example, if you don't understand the history of colonialism and imperialism, then you might think that the best thing that you can do is to bring technology to the poor deprived people of Africa and help them become modern. But do you really understand that the development process impoverishes people, cuts them off from land, destroys ecosystems, erases indigenous ways of knowing, ways of healing, ways of resolving conflict? Like, do you really know that you should come in there and convert communal land ownership to deeded property? Do you really know that you should come in there and replace indigenous ways of healing with, you know, vaccines and antibiotics? Do you really know that you should take them off the land and put them working in factories, take them away from traditional skills and teach them engineering at universities? And I'm not actually saying that the answer to this is yes or no. But have you even thought about that? And do you understand the role of free trade agreements in destroying local economies and forcing people off the land? So a systems level understanding changes the way that our hearts, our care, our love, guide us to act.