Friday, September 02, 2011

As we prapare for our long, holiday weekend ~
A Challenge...

As we prepare for the "Labor Day Weekend" here in the United States,
I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to this young lady and think about what she has to say.  The quality of the video is poor but her words are a plea to each of us...




What if each one of us ~ and all of our family and friends ~ did just ONE thing today, to make this world a better place?  It doesn't have to be something big ~ perhaps just picking up a bit of litter along the road or handing a $5 or1$10 gift card to a grocery store to a homeless person.  Maybe just say something nice to someone to bring a smile to their face.  Instead of fussing while waiting in line at the grocery store checkout, smile and say "Hi" to the people around you.  Wish them a nice day!  Sure, they'll probably think you're nuts, but I bet they'll smile and be in a better mood.  Put your cell phone down for a minute and talk to the people around you!   Instead of honking and flipping off the idiot driver going slow in the passing lane, smile and wave at them.    Think about it:  you're already angry because they're going slow in the passing lane.  If you honk your horn and flip them off as you pass them, it just reinforces the anger.  Chances are it also ticks the other driver off and now we have TWO angry drivers on the road.  But if you smile ~ you'll probably find your anger melting away.  You'll certainly brighten the day of the poor soul who probably didn't even realize that they were in your way.  Perhaps they'll be more aware of their driving habits after that nice person smiled at them...You may just be the nicest thing to happen to them that day!   If you are blessed to have a comfortable home, bills paid, plenty to eat, clothing for your children and even a little extra ~ why not send off a check ~ maybe $10 or $20 to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the charity of your choice?  You may think that $10 or $20 won't make a difference, but how many people live in your town/city?  If even half of them donated to a charity it would make a BIG difference.  If EVERYONE did something, not just today, or tomorrow, or on Labor Day but EVERY day, just think of what a beginning it would make towards making the world a happier place for our children and grandchildren as well as those that we will never meet, from all corners of this planet.

Those kids and Grandkids are not exempt either!  It is our  (that means YOUR!) job to teach them.  To teach them to do better than we do!  To stand up against air/land/water pollution.  To protect our environment and the less fortunate amongst us who also share this great planet.  To be kind to animals and respectful of other people ~ no matter their differences.  To reject foods, beverages, textiles and products that are produced with toxic chemicals and so widely available that we think nothing of putting them in our mouths, on our bodies and in our homes.   After all, "everyone does it" and you "don't have time to cook or read labels and certainly can't afford to buy local or organic".   How much healthier our children would be if they were taught to see what is really in the products that they use and make an informed decision as to weather they truly want to put that into their body/environment.   We warn our children about strangers and inappropriate touch ~ but we don't even bother to mention all of the poisons in the foods that they may eat?  It's up to you to teach your children to protect themselves.  YOU have to set the example.   If you sit down for a meal with your family, perhaps a nice dinner conversation could begin with:  "what did you do to make the world a better place today?"  Make an effort to keep improving the world in the forefront of our thoughts.  If you don't consciously think about it, odds are you will forget about it...

It's not going to just "go away" because we ignore it.  Sure, you doing one thing a day won't make a bit of a difference.  But you doing one thing a day may inspire someone else to do one thing a day and they may inspire someone else...It has to begin somewhere.

Are you willing to make a difference?

If you can think of something (big or small) that YOU could do to make the world a little bit better, please share it in the comments section.  I'd love to see what you come up with.  I also suspect that each person that actually follows through with this challenge will actually feel better about them self as an added bonus.  What have we got to lose?  It doesn't cost anything to smile, or pick up a piece of garbage, or give a hug or thank a teacher or wish a stranger a happy day....


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