Choose Your Own Metaphor: Finding Your Symbol of Strength

Oh, how I loved “choose your own adventure” books when I was growing up! And, of course, as an overachiever and avid reader, I made sure to try every single path through the story before returning it to the library.

Life as an adult sometimes feels like a “choose your own adventure” book. And sometimes it feels like the omniscient and omnipotent narrator has forced us into something we would never have chosen for ourselves.*

Right now, it feels more like the latter.

And yet, books and reading have also been my solace during this rollercoaster of 2025. That, and meaningful conversations with nonprofit leaders like you—people navigating this complicated plotline with courage and creativity. 

Choose Your Own Symbol

My reading has reminded me of several powerful images that I’m holding on to right now. I’m sharing them with you in hopes that they strengthen your personal fortitude and are a rallying cry for your team.

Alchemy: The basic notion of alchemy is turning something common into something precious (i.e. iron into gold). Your nonprofit may feel like you’re working with the bare minimum right now (e.g., small staff, few donors, limited resources, etc.), but these common elements can be turned into something beautiful, precious, and rare. How do we get there? Alchemists would share a poignant motto: Solve et Coagula, literally “dissolve and recombine.” We need to break down some of our best (or better) practices and embrace creativity to recombine them into something new. In alchemy, the fire does not destroy, but it refines. This time of alchemy will redefine the nonprofit sector, but it will also create something valuable. 

Whetstone: If fire isn’t your jam, how about stones and blades? A whetstone is a strong rock that is used to sharpen a blade. In this metaphor, you might be the whetstone or the blade… or both. The whetstone is sturdy and provides friction that strengthens the blade to do its best work. (Sounds to me like a nonprofit leader.) The blade is an invaluable tool, but has lost its edge (pun intended). It needs the whetstone’s help to be revitalized and live up to its potential. Whether you’re the whetstone or the blade, remember that sharpening is not a one-time activity. And, importantly, the sharpening process is best achieved through gentle pressure, not brute force. We’ll keep sharpening each other; friction will make us sharper and wiser. 

Mob of Meerkats: Not only are meerkats adorable, but they are also a compelling metaphor that reminds us about the value of community. Meerkats live in mobs—a name for several family groups. These mobs hunt together, watch for predators together, babysit the pups together, and even pile up to sleep together. I love their togetherness. (I also love them because meerkats are a matriarchal society.) They are small, but their togetherness makes them mighty. They take turns carrying the load so others in the mob can rest. Can we be the same for each other? As a nonprofit sector, can we help support each other in new and creative ways?

Invitation to Join the Mob

Even if you don’t resonate with the meerkat metaphor, I hope you’ll remember that you are part of the AltruNext community. I love it when you respond to a newsletter with your own lived experience or a follow-up question. 

We hope these symbols meet you where you are and help you keep going. And if you're ready to rally, we’ll be waiting—meerkat-mob-style.

 * I’m looking at you for deep trauma: The Handmaid’s Tale, MacBeth, Beloved, The God of Small Things, Brave New World, and countless others. Thankfully, books also provide a balm and help with healing: The Body Keeps the Score, Man’s Search for Meaning, It Didn’t Start With You, and just as many more.

Alchemy photo by cottonbro studio on pexels

Whetstone photo by Airam Dato-on on pexel

Meerkat photo by Wolfgang Weiser on pexels