It’s hard to feel like the things we do make a difference. The dishes I wash will be dirty again in a moment, a single call or letter to a legislator has little impact, and more often than not the words of wisdom I impart on my child have no effect at all. Sometimes it helps to take the long view—the really long view—and remember that the Grand Canyon was carved by water and wind one grain of sand (or boulder) at a time.
How do you see that you have shaped the world when you take the long view?
Again, because my perspective is shaped by my study of history and not Hollywood, I know that it takes a lot of people doing their small part to make big changes happen. WWII was not won by 8 guys in one unit killing Hitler. It was won my millions of people in many nations getting together and coordinating their efforts in a complex, sophisticated way. Likewise, Barak Obama was not elected by his having more corporate dollars sent his way. He became the first black President of the United States because millions of people bothered to vote for him. When I want to see what impact I have had on my son, I look at what kind of person his overall, not on whether he always listens to me. When I want to look at my household accomplishments I look at the whole situation, not just whether or not I can get a stain out of one shirt.