You Can Make A Difference
When I was walking on the beach this morning I noticed several pieces of trash. I walked to my regular spot where I turn around and head back when it dawned one. How many people walk by noticing trash in the street, in a park, by a lake, by an ocean, etc. and don’t do anything. I thought, why not me? and why not now?
So on my way back, I looked for anything that needed to be taken to a trash can. Very quickly I started noticing lots of cigarette butts. Each time I bent over to pick one up I woud think, how is this really helping? I continued this for a good 20 minutes and had at least 50 of them in my hand when I had a thought. That thought was how can I really make a difference? There was no way I could pick up all the cigarette butts up and it seemed the more I looked for them, the more I saw. I continued for another 10 minutes and made 3 trips to the trash cans to drop off my collection. I thought about what I was doing and it dawned on me, yes, I can and did make a difference, at least for this beach on this day. 
It is kind of like the kindness challenge on my idontstink.com website. It all starts with one kind act at a time. If you try to fix the whole beach, the whole city, the whole country, the whole world, you probably will not get very far. Start changing the world you see by doing one kind act today. Then if the urge exists, do more kind acts for yourself and others. That is how you make a difference. As Gandhi put is so clearly, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”
Peace, love and gratitude,
Bill
One kind act at a time certainly doesn’t seem like a lot, but when I am frustrated with everyone around me I find it very challenging. So I decided to do an Act of Kindness for myself and take 30 minutes out of the day to eat some cookies and read an inspirational book. My pick was “Wrestling With the Goddess” by Azeem Kayum. If he doesn’t inspire you, no one can. I chose his book because I wanted to act kindly to myself and lift my spirits, strengthen my empathy for people, and focus on character building. And it worked!
You can find his book at http://www.azeemkayum.com/
Hi Melissa, what a GREAT idea! Doing something for yourself certainly qualifies for an act of kindness. I know what you mean when you say it is tough to do something kind when everyone around you is bringing you down. For me, when I notice someone around me being negative, I do something kind for them usually by giving some sort of compliment even if it occured years before. Sometimes when that doesn’t work, I do exactly what you and do something kind for myself. Sometimes just walking away from them is a kind deed for myself. One other thing that I LOVE to do when I am in that situation, I immediately say, “Surely the goodness of God is in this place.” That is from one of Wayne Dyer’s CD’s but the moment I heard it, I started practicing it all the time.
Thank you for the information about Azeem. I have not heard of him before but just subscribed to his newsletter and will check out his book.
Thank you for sharing. Peace and gratitude,
Bill