What I’m Proud Of (and Why That Matters)
Lately, I’ve been doing some reflecting. It was sparked by something Jon Alexander wrote:
“I have a plan - or rather, some plans. But first I wanted to reflect on a few of my proudest moments - for a reason. We have to celebrate and build on what’s good, not just stare at what’s wrong, because what we pay attention to grows.”
So, during a busy summer with the kids, while work has taken a bit of a back seat, I’ve been taking time to notice the good. And asking myself: What am I proud of?
A Stack of Stories
Jon shared three things he was proud of, which got me thinking. One moment stood out recently, a social media post showed the logos of the three organisations I helped found, stacked like chapters of a story.
At the top was One Tree at a Time, the community hub in our village of Bozel, now in its fourth year. It started with a simple mission: rescuing and repairing outdoor gear to reduce waste. But it quickly grew into something more, a space for reuse workshops and community events, all centred around a work table where we use our collective creativity to dream.
That creativity sparked the Re-Action Collective, a growing network of grassroots organisations challenging consumerism and building regenerative, community-led alternatives. Rooted in repair, reuse, and systems change, Re-Action shares resources and stories that show real change starts from the ground up.
It’s here that we’re learning how to organise globally, building a sociocracy that replaces hierarchy with shared leadership, using consent-based decisions and clear roles to ensure everyone’s voice counts. It’s an ongoing experiment in working together with clarity, trust, and purpose.
And, Re-action was the seed for ACTionism, a movement that is building a radical shift from consumption to collective power. At ACTionism we amplify untold stories, mobilise communities, and spark a citizen-led movement for a just, new re-imagined future. This isn’t reform, it’s a cultural shift powered by joy, imagination, and the belief that change is something we create together.
ACTionism is us paying attention to what is good, so that it grows.
The Journey Matters
You might think the obvious choice would be to say I’m proudest of One Tree, Re-Action, and ACTionism, but that’s not quite it. Firstly, I’m proud of the journey we’ve been on, and how our community continues to show up for the hard work, day after day. There’s a creative spark, a quiet stubbornness, and a deep refusal to accept the status quo that runs through everything we do.
That journey has taken us from fixing old outdoor gear to building a collective movement. At every step, we’re learning, how to organise, how to challenge dominant systems, how we don't need permission, and how to support each other through it all.
Andy Middleton recently wrote:
“One of the few things that 'keeps the light on' for me is the certain knowledge of how dislocated and unconnected the hundreds of thousands of organisations and tens of millions of people are who work to address the roots of our systemic crisis. If - and it's a mightyly big 'if' - we can find a cadence and melody to sing as one, then nothing would stop us.”
That’s been our journey, finding a shared cadence, learning to move in harmony, listening deeply, supporting each other’s growth, and connecting like-minded organisations along the way.
What began with fixing outdoor gear at One Tree has grown into something much larger: a pathway from local action to global collaboration. From a small community hub to ACTionism - a movement with the potential to become a true home for regeneration, collective power, and systemic change.
Staying Power Is a Radical Act
The second thing I’m most proud of is that all three of these organisations are still going, that’s no small feat in today’s system. Just yesterday, we secured enough funding to keep One Tree running for at least another three years.
That means the dream continues, and as a community, we can keep reimagining what’s possible. I’m proud that even as our vision spreads and new opportunities arise, I’m still drawn back to that work table at One Tree. That’s where it all began, and it still holds the heart of everything we do.
And while none of these organisations are in perfect financial health, they are rich in something far more sustaining: the strength, creativity, and commitment of their communities. In that sense, they’re not just surviving, they’re thriving.
Citizens of Possibility
Lastly, I’m proud of the citizens I’m surrounded by, people who are quietly and courageously building strong systems, reimagining what’s possible, and expanding the range of sustainable futures for people, nature, and the planet. They choose to live in a place of possibility, actively trying to create the conditions where all forms of life can thrive.
Indy Johar wrote a recent article about Pre-Emptive Peace. Indy describes how we often think peace means just stopping war, but real peace is more than the absence of violence, it means addressing the deeper, connected harms like environmental destruction, poverty, and unfair systems that quietly cause damage every day.
What I’m most proud of is this community, creative, joyful, stubbornly hopeful people who dare to believe things can change. Who understand that everything is connected, that this system isn’t for fixing, it’s for transforming. Together, we’re doing just that, building pre-emptive peace by deliberately cultivating joy. Because joy generates energy, energy fuels action, and action transforms everything.
