Is it just me? Or do most people feel helpless about the state of disparity in the world?
Do most people wish there was something we could do about it?
It might not always be high on your radar. We can become desensitized as a way to protect ourselves and learn to get on with life–I get it.
Before I share three basic things we can do today to create change, here are 3 reasons why we should care:
3 Quick facts to help you want to make change:
Psychologically - Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide and will be the single biggest medical burden on healthcare by 2020.
Economically - Billions of people everyday live without the very basic necessities of life - food, water, and shelter.
Environmentally - In the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history.
But the good news is there are things we can do today..
Anne Frank said, “How great is it that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
I love this quote. If a young girl locked in a house when her country is being attacked can look at it like this - then so can we.
The key message here–you can make a difference.
Here are 3 simple ways how:
1. EXERCISE KINDNESS
Random acts of kindness are shown to alleviate depression. This ties back in with the first fact above - 'depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide'.
Pay it forward. Carry out a random act of kindness: Whether it be sending someone a kind message; giving a small gift; making something for someone; telling them how much they mean to you or simply just giving a stranger a smile whilst walking past them in the street. There are so many ways to brighten up other's days that won't cost you a thing.
2. LEARN TO SHOP
Shop carefully. Businesses are some of the most important and influential organisations in the world today. They are involved with, or in some way influence, almost any issue you can think of.
This ties back in to the amount of people living without their basic needs. Luckily, you have opportunities everyday to encourage businesses to do the right thing. Every time you buy something, you're giving your approval for whatever process was involved in its production. The next time you're in the grocery store, take an extra look at the labels. Take a close look at your options. Ask yourself questions: "Do I want to support this type of business?"
All in all - learn how to shop with a conscious mind.
3. SAY NO TO PLASTIC STRAWS
This obviously ties in with my remark on consumerism of the world's resources.
Cutting out single use plastic drinking straws can dramatically help save the environment. ‘Plastic is a petroleum-based product which means we’re wasting a limited resource on the unnecessary convenience of sipping drinks differently.
Think this easy sacrifice won’t work?'
More than 500 million disposable straws are used everyday…. It’s kinda hard to picture how much that is right? To give you a comparison – if we lined up these straws we could circle them 2.5 times around the earth in one day and it’d only take three days to reach the moon
If you really can’t live without them – you have other options than plastic, there are metal, glass and bamboo. So please tell your restaurant server to hold the straws! Preserving our planet for future generations begins with a simple sip.
To recap on what to add to your "to-do list" today:
Exercise kindness
Learn to shop
So no to plastic straws.
Remember by doing these three simple tasks you will make a difference.