So I was scrolling through my quote journal the other day (yes, I keep one of those – judge me all you want, it keeps me sane during my existential crises), and I stumbled upon this gem from the Dalai Lama: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
I literally snorted my coffee when I re-read this. Like, how perfect is that imagery? We’ve ALL been there – that moment when you’re drifting off to dreamland and then _bzzzzzz_ – that tiny little demon starts circling your ear. And suddenly your peaceful night is DESTROYED by something weighing about 2.5 milligrams. For reference, that’s like 1/1000th the weight of a paperclip.
This got me thinking about impact vs. size in general. I mean, I’m just one person sitting here typing away on my laptop, occasionally pausing to stare out the window and contemplate if I should order takeout again (spoiler: I did). What difference can I really make in this massive world? Climate change, social justice, animal welfare – the problems seem SO enormous, and I’m just… me.
But then I remember the mosquito. That tiny little bug doesn’t have existential doubts about its purpose or impact. It just does its thing, and BOY does it make its presence known.
I had this moment last week at the grocery store. The cashier looked completely beaten down by life, and I just asked how her day was going and actually waited for the answer. We chatted for maybe 45 seconds while she scanned my embarrassing amount of cheese products. Nothing major. But her entire demeanor changed. She stood straighter, smiled a real smile, made eye contact. As I was leaving, she said, “Thanks for seeing me today.”
I’m not trying to humble brag here – I’m just saying that tiny interaction probably meant nothing to me but might have changed her whole day. That’s some mosquito energy right there!
Or take my friend Miguel who started picking up trash on his morning runs. Just one dude, one small trash bag, three times a week. People noticed. Now there’s like 15 people who join him regularly. Their neighborhood looks noticeably better, and the city installed new trash cans along the route. All because one person thought, “I’m gonna be annoying about this one small thing.”
I think we get so caught up in thinking we need to make these HUGE gestures to matter. Like if you’re not donating millions or leading a movement or inventing something revolutionary, why bother? But that’s just not true.
That’s how I’m trying to think about my impact now, more than ever. My tiny contribution matters when combined with others. And sometimes, being that persistent mosquito who just won’t shut up about something important can actually drive change.
I’ve started applying this to my daily life. I speak up in meetings even when my idea seems small. I donate my $10 even when it feels insignificant. I share information about causes I care about even when I worry people might find it annoying. Because you know what? Sometimes being a bit annoying is exactly what’s needed.
The Dalai Lama didn’t say “be exactly like a mosquito and suck blood from people” (though extracting resources from billionaires doesn’t sound terrible lol). He was pointing out that significance isn’t determined by size – it’s determined by persistence, purpose, and being unafraid to make a little noise.
So here’s my challenge to you (and myself): Embrace your inner mosquito this week. Find one small thing you care about and be persistent about it. It might be checking in on a friend, reducing your plastic use, speaking up about something at work, or supporting a local business. Whatever it is, don’t discount it because it seems too small.
Because if there’s one thing a mosquito has never done, it’s doubt its own impact.
Anyway, I’m off to annoy some people about community garden funding at the town council meeting tonight. Buzz buzz, friends!
P.S. What’s your “mosquito cause”? Drop it in the comments! I’d love to hear what tiny differences you’re making that add up to big changes.