Daily Mood Quote
Day 78 – July 20, 2011
You're alive. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change.
~Neil Gaiman
Sometimes, I feel that people believe the only way to change the world is through some grand gesture, or some highly affluent position, which affords them the money to change the world. So, many don't even try. We live our day-to-day lives, going about our business, never paying attention to, or reaching out to those around us in small and meaningful ways. Perhaps its because our culture is a bit skewed toward grandiose and overt acts, that grab headlines. Or, perhaps its because we have allowed ourselves to be so busy, we don't take time to help. Maybe both or neither, I'm not certain. Yes, the grand gestures of this world can make a impact on a larger scale, but often for only a short time. The ancient Chinese proverb goes: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” So it is with kindness; food for your and their spirit. It's the smaller acts of kindness that make the real difference. They impact people personally and make those small shifts of perspective, for the giver and the receiver, that truly change the world.
For example, yesterday I went to Walmart to purchase a few small items (they were on sale) and there was a mom with her two young children in a cart, pulling things off the shelves, while the mother desperately tried to shop. Boy, have I been there. I walked over and with a smile, making eye contact with the mom, so she knew I wasn't crazy, dangerous or both and said to her son, “You like to play the game 52 pick-up, don't you?” while picking up the items from the floor. Then through a little game, I once played with my own children, I got both children to sit down in the cart. The mother who no longer showed frustration and embarrassment on her face said, “Thank you” and smiled. My husband and I walked away while saying in unison “Your welcome.” Don't forget he stood there patiently, while I played the “sit down game” for the thousandth time.
On May 10, 2011, Day six of this blog, I talked about building an A-R-K, which comes from the movie Evan Almighty with Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman. This movie is one of my favorites because of the strong message, that is profoundly restated throughout the movie. “How do you change the world? One Act of Random Kindness at a time.” A smile to a person who is having a bad day. Assistance to someone who dropped something, or a friendly ear to someone who needs a friend. You might be surprised at the difference these things can make in someone's life. We are going through tough times and the only news that is being displayed is downright depressing. It's easy to turn inward and try to close out the world. But that's never how things get better. It just reinforces the negative. To change our world, we must begin by embracing it with a heart full of love and an Act of Random Kindness.
How will you "change" someone's world today?
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
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