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One of our writers recently reached out to me, and I made the mistake of calling myself just a “keyboard warrior” in our correspondence.

I didn’t intend it in a derogatory manner toward myself, as if what I do doesn’t have meaning, or that I’m incapable of showing up in any other way. What I meant was that I am, most of the time, fulfilling my self-proclaimed “activist” role in this world, and in Minneapolis, from behind a keyboard.

Do I protest? Absolutely. I actually show up bodily, in-person, in many ways. But the majority of my time is dedicated to work behind a screen.

I write. I read. I edit. I review. I create. I share. I connect, and I stay connected.

I am a gatherer of ideas, of people, of events, of information. And I disseminate.

But this author? They were having none of this just stuff.

They reminded me of a story of resistance writers in WWII. And I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. They reminded me that I occupy a rare space in this chaotic, wonderful world right now as an editor for Elephant Journal, where I am privileged to have what many others in this space do not: perspective.

They reminded me that I see what is being written and I see what isn’t, and the silence in the space between. An idea of what is missing.

I’ve been mulling this over for a few weeks now, and I think this will take a while to fully settle into my bones. But in the meantime, it has, perhaps, redefined my definition of “keyboard warrior.”

We live in a time where many, many people have the power of a smartphone in their hands. AI is (unsafely and unchecked) booming. We get our news online, our books online, our music, and even our community networks often have an online organization before growing into in-person gatherings. We are technology-dependent in ways we never have been before. And it all makes me wonder…maybe this is a sign to simply drop the “keyboard” in that moniker in 2026 and agree that any peaceful warrior, is a warrior indeed.

With those smartphones in our pockets, we’re all digital warriors and digital activists who have the power to speak, to move mountains, and to make a difference.

And it has inspired me to include the concept of “perspective” in my definition of my work. I hope that, as editors, we bring perspective to the table when we edit and share writing submitted to Elephant Journal.

We are small, but we are mighty.

And we are, in so many ways, a landing space for the voiceless in today’s world of corporate-owned mainstream media.

If you have felt your voice growing louder, and louder, or even quivering inside you but growing impossible to ignore…there is space in this non-keyboard warrior world for you, too.

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