I'm going to do anything I can do - whether that's being part of

In the words of Abby Wambach, “I’m going to do anything I can do—whether that’s being part of FIFA or creating some sort of movement that can actually impart real equality across all lines—in every country, every city, every sector all over the world, that’s what I’m going to do.” These words burn with the fire of commitment, the vow of a warrior who has tasted victory on the field and now seeks to win a greater triumph: the victory of justice for all. They remind us that greatness is not only measured in goals scored or trophies won, but in the courage to take up the struggles of humanity itself.

The ancients would have recognized this spirit as the mark of a hero who moves from personal glory to public service. For what is true leadership if not the willingness to carry the burdens of others? Wambach, a champion of the game, refuses to stop at the laurels of her sport. Instead, she seeks to join or build a movement, something larger than herself, something that will outlast her name. This mirrors the journeys of those who, after conquering one battlefield, set their eyes on the greater war for equality and justice.

History gives us many such examples. Consider Nelson Mandela, who, after enduring twenty-seven years in prison, emerged not to claim vengeance but to build a movement for reconciliation and justice in South Africa. Like Wambach, his vision was not limited to one city or one people; it radiated across the world, a cry for human dignity in every land. Both figures remind us that the true measure of greatness is not in isolated victories, but in lifting entire nations toward freedom.

Wambach’s mention of FIFA is also telling. She points to the very structures of power that govern sport, recognizing that change must happen not only from the outside through protest, but from within, by transforming institutions. Yet she does not limit her vision to one organization; she vows to act wherever she can, whether within official halls or in the streets of cities, across every sector of society. This is the heart of her message: that equality must be pursued everywhere, for injustice anywhere weakens justice everywhere.

Her words also shine with urgency. She does not say, “Someone should do this.” She says, “That’s what I’m going to do.” This is the language of responsibility, the refusal to wait for others, the recognition that the work of justice begins with oneself. The ancients praised such resolve as the essence of virtue: to know what is right and to act, without hesitation, without waiting for another to take the first step.

The lesson for us is clear: if we would see equality in our time, we must do more than admire it from afar. We must join the labor. Whether we stand in positions of influence like Wambach or in the hidden corners of ordinary life, each of us has a part to play in creating a movement that uplifts all. For the dream of equality will never be fulfilled by words alone; it is carried forward by the hands and hearts of those who dare to act.

Practical actions flow from this truth. Seek out ways to serve, whether in local communities or global causes. Challenge injustice in every form, not only when it touches your own life, but whenever it rises against another. Transform institutions from within when possible, and when not, build movements outside them. Above all, do not wait for permission to act—take responsibility, as Wambach declares, to do whatever you can, wherever you are, for the sake of others.

Thus, Abby Wambach’s words are more than a promise; they are a call to arms for all who would see a better world. She shows us that victory on the field is fleeting, but the struggle for equality across all nations, all cities, all lives, is eternal. Let us, therefore, rise with the same resolve, declaring not only what must be done, but also, with courage and conviction: “That’s what I’m going to do.”