Be the Change!

I was driving in the rainy streets of Chicago a couple of days ago, flipping through radio stations when I paused to hear the next song. It was John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.” In that moment, driving along, those lyrics really resonated with me. I got to thinking . . .why are people waiting on the world change? Why are we not doing what we can, to change the things we can? Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I agree with this!

So, how do you start? It can be something that appears so little, such as coming through security at the airport. I was just in Chicago Midway Airport and I saw a mom was struggling to put her shoes back on and get everything stuffed back into her bags. Her little daughter struggled to get her bag off of the security conveyor. She cried to her mom for help. So, I reached up and took the bag, carried it over to her mom and the little girl followed. No, I didn’t have my shoes on yet and, yes, my items were still sitting on the conveyor belt. It didn’t matter . . . this little girl needed a hand. Not a big deal, but something you should do. Everyone else was standing by, worried about getting their belongings and putting on their shoes. No one else acknowledged the little girl or even paused to help her. Imagine if that was your child or you as a kid. All of these busy adults just standing by watching you scared, needing help and unsure of what to do. This makes me question what’s happening in the world.

Ask yourself . . "Why are we too busy to pause and help a child a need?"
I have a lot of questions as to how we got here in the world today. So busy . . .too busy to help others. I don’t think so. We are too caught up in what is important to us in the moment, and we don’t pause to take a look at the bigger picture. How our little acts of kindness make differences.

It is important that we practice these small acts of kindness. When you practice kindness, kindness comes back to you. As much as we might feel to make a difference, we have to do something larger than ourselves to make a positive impact, we don’t. Helping someone cross the street, returning a wallet that was lost or keeping your eye on a child that appears to be alone in a public place, just to be sure they get back to their caregiver, is something that makes a difference. Everyone can and should do something every day. These acts of kindness add up to a much better place, a place where together we change those things that need to be changed. It is together that we make a difference.

Stop waiting on the world to change, CHANGE IT!