03/15/2025
Desmond Tutu’s quote really speaks to the difference between just reacting to problems versus actually solving them at the source. The way I see it, “pulling people out of the river” is like putting band-aids on issues—providing temporary help but never really fixing what’s causing the struggle in the first place. Instead, we need to go “upstream” and figure out why people are falling in.
This idea ties into everything I believe in, especially when it comes to mental health, addiction, and trauma recovery. It’s not enough to just treat the symptoms—we have to look deeper and address what’s really causing the pain. That’s why I focus on getting to the root of the problem, whether it’s unhealed trauma, systemic barriers, or a lack of real support.
Tutu’s message also connects with the idea of Ubuntu, which is about recognizing that we’re all connected and responsible for each other’s well-being. True change happens when we stop just reacting to crisis after crisis and start working to prevent people from ending up in those situations in the first place. That’s where real healing and transformation begin.
