Small things to make a difference
The smallest thing can make the biggest difference!
We live our everyday life in somewhat routine way. Try to make something a little bit different once. There are many possibilities to achieve huge changes through small ones in your neighborhood, family, town or community. I want to share some ideas of mine with you. Just pick one and do it. Do it once a day, once a week or even just once a month. Because even the smallest things do matter.
This image was originally posted to Flickr by Zitona. It is licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
— Mahatma Gandhi#1: Do a good deed - and it will come back to you.
Picture is licensed under public domain.
This one can be very simple. Every day we meet many people in need of help. Try to notice them next time you meet them.
You don't need to invite whole squadron of homeless guys to a dinner, but next time a stranger asks you a direction, and it is not far from your own way, try to make sure he knows where to go.
It is simple. You just need to have your eyes open and opportunity to make a good deed will find you. Really, you don't have to pursuit it, it is usually better idea to just be prepared. It will come eventually. Then you need to not to be afraid of a good deed.
#2 Give stranger a smile
and receive one back.
Ever happened to you someone just smiled at you when you had a rough day? I experienced it a few times and it works. It can really make your day.
So next time you have an opportunity, try it. When you see someone troubled, someone stressed and sad, someone over-worried, try to send him a smile. You never know, maybe he will do the same next time. And we will smile more on each other.
It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
— Mahatma Gandhi#3: Beautify your neighborhood - and you may inspire others.
Image by Pollinator licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
I often go for a walk around our town. And I can't help myself not to notice so many things, that could be done to make whole neighborhood look so much better. People often tend to be very interested in ways to beautify their own property, but their interest goes just so far their own property goes. And some times not even that far.
I tried to make a list of some pretty easy ideas everybody can do to make their neighborhood much more beautiful place to live.
- Organize neighbors and go collect a garbage from near park to make it clean and nice again
- Finally paint this peeling fence of yours
- Build a new birdhouse
- Plant some flowers along the path to your house
- Repair something you have been going to repair since ever
#4 Streghten old ties
or make new ones
We all know it very well. Once upon a time we had a great friend. But time is ruthless and our mutual bond got weaker. Maybe it is the right time to consider whether you can do something for your friendship. Invite him to a diner, take your families with you and have a great time!
You can also try to trace someone who used to be very close to you but you lost contact. Internet and social networks can be very helpful.
Other thing you can do to make a difference is noticing someone in your neighborhood, who might enjoy your company. Be it an old lady living next door, spending whole day alone with her cats or aging couple, whose children are already out of home.
Some people seem to fade away but then when they are truly gone, it's like they didn't fade away at all.
— Bob Dylan, Chronicles, Vol. 1#5 Be creative
It's time to be a little bit more creative than usual. You have kids? Great, then take them and go create something together. Try to turn off TV for once and sit with your children and paint. Make birdhouse. Cook something. It's entirely up to you.
Sometimes I think of how I used to write poems. Then there is nothing better than to sit down and try to write something.
One thing that I find very useful in helping you to get into it, to start being very creative is this server. Squidoo. If you came to this page "from outside", stick around a little bit and maybe write your first lens.
It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
— Mother Theresa#6: Give away something you don't need
to someone who will
Sometimes I realize that I have a lot of things I don't actually need any more. Be it some old books, clothes, or anything else, it might be a good idea to give it away to someone, who can actually need it.
There are plenty of opportunities and organizations. They can help get your things to the right people. Just search in your neighborhood.
#7: Invite family for a dinner
This image is a work of the National Institutes of Health, part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.
In our family we have a rule. We meet at least every Sunday for a dinner. I thing it is great to stay in touch with each other. But even one time action could be very beneficial. Just invite a whole family for a dinner. Maybe you will realize that meeting is great and you should meet on regular basis like every month or so.
It is really good for relations in family to see each other more often then just at the wedding or funeral!
#8: Find a penfriend
Can you remember the last time you actually send a paper letter? It might be a while. But letters are in my opinion great nd wonderful type of literature.
Nowadays there is a lot of opportunities to find yourself a penfriend. Or you can be a part of network of penfriends from around the globe. It is a very good feeling when you receive a letter from some exotic country 20 thousands miles away. And you never know, maybe your penfriend will become a friend and you will go visit him.
Some well known penfriend pages to try:
#9: Stop and breathe
Attribution: Foto: Jonn Leffmann,This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
My last advice is quite simple. Just try to be less stressed and to relax more. We live in such a rush that we are not able to make a good decisions on the regular basis any more. It is quite a good idea to sometimes just stop and breathe. Your mind will be more calm and you will be able to sort out your thoughts. And this, my dear friends, can be a real game changer.
