The Power of One

Recently, I visited Crystal Cove, California, just south of Newport Beach. Walking along the shoreline, it's easy to feel as though you've stepped back in time.

The story goes that in the 1920s, James Irvine, whose vast ranch included this stretch of coastline, allowed members of Hollywood's growing film industry to use the beach as a movie location. Over time, some of the visitors built simple shelters and cottages along the bluffs. By 1936, forty-seven cottages stood overlooking the Pacific.

Decades later, that history nearly disappeared.

One Person Refused to Let History Disappear

When the land was sold to the State of California in 1979, plans were developed to replace the cottages with more traditional beach development. The aging structures, rich with memories and stories, seemed destined for demolition.

But one person saw something worth saving.

Laura Davick had a personal connection to Crystal Cove. Her parents met there as campers in 1937 and later moved into Cottage #2 in 1961. When she learned of the proposed changes, she refused to accept that this unique community would simply vanish.

She organized, advocated, and persevered.

Davick founded the Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove, now known as the Crystal Cove Conservancy. Through years of effort, she convinced state officials to abandon plans for a luxury resort and instead preserve the historic district. After four years of work, a preservation plan was adopted. Today, the conservancy works alongside the state park system to protect the cottages and surrounding area for future generations.

One woman.

One vision.

One gift.

The Importance of Remembering

As I walked past the restored cottages, visited the historic Beachcomber restaurant, browsed the art gallery and museum, and reflected on the generations of families who had enjoyed this place, I felt grateful.

Grateful that one person chose to act.

We often underestimate the impact a single individual can have. It's easy to believe that meaningful change requires large organizations, political influence, or vast financial resources. Yet history repeatedly tells a different story. Again and again, positive change begins when one person decides that something valuable is worth preserving.

Remembering matters.

It connects us to who we are. It reminds us of the values, traditions, and experiences that shaped us. Yet remembering requires effort. It requires intention.

What Happened to Civility?

There was a time before twenty-four-hour news cycles. Before social media. Before we could retreat behind screens and interact without accountability.

While no era was perfect, there was a stronger expectation that people would engage one another with a measure of respect and civility.

Today, that expectation often feels diminished.

Public discourse is louder. Outrage travels faster. Too often, disagreement becomes contempt.

Yet civility is not a relic of the past. It is a choice that can still shape the future.

Change Begins With One

We have seen cultural change happen before.

Public attitudes toward smoking, littering, seatbelt use, and countless other behaviors shifted because enough people embraced a different standard. What once seemed normal became unacceptable. What once seemed unlikely became common practice.

The same can happen with civility.

A more respectful society will not emerge because of a single law, election, or social media campaign. It will emerge because individuals choose a different path. One conversation at a time. One interaction at a time. One example at a time.

That is the power of one.

The preservation of Crystal Cove stands as a reminder that one person's actions can leave a lasting mark on a community. The same principle applies to our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and civic life.

If we want more peace, more beauty, and more civility in our world, we cannot wait for someone else to begin.

It starts with me.

It starts with you.

And it starts with one.