Some days, it feels like the news is nothing but depressing stories. The political climate in the U.S. is in shambles, terrorist attacks are happening around the world, and the refugee crisis has left people across Africa and the Middle East without homes for years. Social media is no longer a place to escape to, but to feel depressed by and therefore completely avoid. It’s enough to make a person feel like she can’t make a difference.
There are little steps we can take every day, though, to spread some joy, some positivity, some moments of respite from the often sad reality of life in the 21st century. Want to know more? Follow these 6 easy steps to make your world a better place. Sometimes, it’s the little things.
- Spend an afternoon picking up garbage at a nearby public space. Maybe it’s the park your child loves to go to. Maybe it’s the green space right next to a bus stop you frequent. Maybe it’s the back alley you drive through to get to your garage. Taking an hour out of your day to clean it up will make everyone who frequents that space happier, and perhaps inspire others to join in next time.
- Support local. Chances are, there’s a mom and pop shop near you that could use your business. The dry cleaners, that independent flower shop, that start-up accessories store. Even the farmers selling their goods at your local market. They need your help to survive. Seriously, you don’t want to see that new business owner greeting you at Walmart, the next time you go in, do you?
- Volunteer. Whether it’s a local food bank, a donations facility, or an outreach program for new citizens or refugees, volunteering is a way to connect. It’s a way to step outside your bubble and make a difference not just in someone else’s life, but in your life, because it adds meaning. You can only talk about the injustices of the world for so long, without doing anything, before you turn into a massive hypocrite.
- Disconnect to Reconnect. We spend so much time on our devices these days that it’s hard to remember what it was like before them. What the heck did we do with all our time? Did we talk more? What did we do in all those waiting rooms? Okay, handheld devices are actually great for waiting rooms, but what about going out with friends? Try putting your phones down and looking each other in the eye, instead of Instagramming your drink.
- Stop and smell the flowers. When you take the time to be in nature, to breathe, to just stop, you never know what will happen. Inspiration can come at the most unexpected moments.
- Stand up to hate. This is a broad suggestion. It could mean standing up for a woman in hijab being verbally attacked on public transit, or it could mean posting a sign on your front door (business or home) that says all races, religions, and identities are welcome. Perhaps you can spend a bit more time talking to your kids about why it’s important to stick up for people who are being picked on, and explain what it means to be marginalized, and how we can help those who are to feel safer.
Admittedly, on their own, none of these things may change the world as we know it. But maybe, just maybe, they will sow the seeds of change to help create a more liveable, tolerant, loving space for you and those around you. And when that takes place, who knows what will grow.
