What The World Needs Now . . .

This is a post I wrote in June of 2017 and yet it seems to be perfect for January 2021 as well so I am reposting it in the hopes that it will help in some way.  (with a couple things added).

In many ways, we are living in challenging times.  Things happening in our world can make us question humanity, they can make us operate out of fear and they can make us feel powerless.

Yet, I believe we hold the power to make a positive difference in the world with the simple act of kindness.  If we look for opportunities every day to show people a little kindness, I believe that kindness will multiply and multiply.  It doesn't matter if you know the people you are offering kindness to or if they are strangers.  Something as simple as smiling at someone or letting someone into the congested traffic lane you are in can make a big difference in someone's day. It may inspire them to offer a similar kindness to someone else and the ripple effect can take it from there. 

There are people who have been so impacted by the lack of income from businesses that have been shut down this year that they are really struggling and people who haven't fully recovered from losing their homes to fires from this year. Many people think "Well, what can I do, I'm only one person" and yet I believe that if we do anything, anything at all, it can make a difference. 

It could be a small thing like making cookies for a neighbor or looking in your closet to see if there is a blanket you can donate or a warm coat you don't wear that you could give to someone. It could be anything at all. It may just lift someone's spirits enough that it gives them the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

There's a song from my childhood that plays in my head all the time . . . even though it was written and performed many years ago, the lyrics couldn't be more poignant today:

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone

Even though it may not feel like it, this is our world . . . and even though it may not feel like it, we have the ability to make it a better place to be. 

I encourage you to try it out.  Do something kind for someone. There's no time like the present to offer love and kindness and compassion to others.  I can't explain how it will shift things in our world, yet I am equally sure that it can.
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