We can worry about rot and horribleness and still tend a beautiful garden.

I try to remember this when I feel myself drifting into a helpless “what’s the point, everything sucks” mindset.

There are a lot of things in the world that I think should change and that I’m not in the position to directly address. But there are things I can do in my own life, for and with people I know, for and with my neighbors, for and with things and spaces and ideas I think are important.

My reach and capac...