Making a difference

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Often the most positive changes are those instances where we can truly make a difference. Where we can influence our own lives or the lives of others in such a way that they become better.

Something that can be done by solving our own problems, yet not by solving the other person’s problems. It can be done by changing our own attitudes, yet we may discover it to be difficult to change the other person’s attitude.
In other words ~ often we can affect the greatest difference in our own lives or in the lives of others by taking care of our own business and in doing so being an example for others to do the same.

That being said, of course their are always those instances where we can actually help another person. Sometimes just by listening to them. Other times by for instance doing their shopping, giving them a ride, or helping them cleaning their house.

Other ways in which we can truly make a difference is by engaging in volunteer work. Or by cleaning up a park in our neighborhood. Or by just picking up that plastic bag that is blowing around in the wind and putting it in a trash bin…

The one thing that all of these ways to make a difference have in common is that ~ no matter where we would like to make a difference ~ it is best done where we can touch it. Personally.
This means that we are most effective in making a difference in our own lives, in the lives of those who are close to us; in our immediate environments.
In other words, close to home.

This is not to say that we would not be able to make a difference on a far greater scale ~ we can!
Yet the changes in the world begin with the differences we make at home.
The way it works is that even the smallest change in attitude which makes a positive difference in our own lives will start spreading to those close to us, to our immediate environment, and on and on.
And while we may not see the effects of the difference we have made worldwide right away, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t make a difference…

It doesn’t help to just keep talking about the things ‘people should do’ to make things better, or to focus only on far away places; on things that are well outside of our realm of (personal) influence…

The one thing needed to make a difference ~ in our lives or in the world ~ is to actually do it. And to do so right where we can touch it. Within ourselves, at home, in our direct environments.
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