Make a Difference!

You might wonder how you, only one person, can make a difference in the lives of those around you. You’d be surprised how easy it is. You don’t have to do something earth shattering to make a difference. The little things often have the greatest impact. It can be as simple as a smile, a kind word, a helping hand, a sympathetic ear. They all go a long way to make someone’s life better.

There is a LOT of need out there. Just take a look around and you will see where random acts of kindness are needed – or not so random.

If you’re a young person, look in your community for someone older that needs a hand – mowing a lawn, shoveling snow, carrying groceries or even a visit.

If you’re older, there are plenty of things you can do. You can volunteer at a local hospital, hospice, assisted living or a nursing home. Food Banks are always looking for donations and volunteers. Offer to babysit a neighbor’s child. Mentor a young person.

Getting involved in your community isn’t hard and with a little time, you can really make a big difference. And the best part? Volunteering is addicting and contagious, so once you start, you will probably want to keep doing it…and so will those around you!

I recently became the recipient of a huge act of kindness. Many of you know that donations were requested to buy a new mobility scooter for me. People were more than generous and I now have my scooter!

There are many young women in Kenya with a need and those of us who contribute through Periods Of Dignity Initiative (PODI) ARE making a difference.

My husband is totally disabled due to Multiple Sclerosis, but he still makes a difference! He makes caps for the newborns at local hospitals.

Be on the lookout for ways you can help!

“It does not matter where we come from or what we look like. If we recognize our abilities, are willing to learn and to use what we know in helping others, we will always have a place in the world.” Ben Carson

I heard a story a while back that has stuck with me:

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean. As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water. The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,” I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. “But”, said the man, “You can’t possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The boy smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied – “Made a difference to that one”

One person cannot do it all. There will always be more people to reach than time or energy or commitment will allow, but each one of us can touch a few people. How wrong would we be to not help anyone because we cannot help everyone?

You CAN make a difference. Give it a try…..