Changing the World...One Kind Gesture at a Time

So many terrible things have been in the news recently. To name a few standouts; rape, bullying, teen suicide, bombing in Boston, earthquake in China and only minutes from my home human remains were discovered, an 18 year old boy who had been missing since 2007. What’s worse is that millions of other horrific things have happened and never made the headlines. This is the world we are raising our children in.

I am made aware daily that seemingly the majority of kids these days have very little regard for themselves or others. They walk in the middle of the street like they’re invincible and act on any whim they, or their friends, might have. They have zero manners and something as simple as saying “please” and “thank you” is all but a foreign concept. Somehow, as a society, we have failed these kids. They are the future adults of the world. What a scary mess we will be in 5 to 10 years if things continue on this way, but it’s not too late.

Thankfully amidst all of the chaos there are helpers, doers and people paying it forward every single day. Something as simple as holding a door for someone struggling with their stroller, buying someone their coffee or smiling and saying hello might be just exactly what that person needed most at that moment. The world is a harsh place in so many ways, but we can do little things to make a big difference and we can do big things that make a bigger difference.

I challenge you to make one positive change in your life and that of your child’s. Pay it forward as a family, donate blood, become a Big Sister or Big Brother, volunteer, rake someone’s leaves, stay strong in a difficult situation and do kind things expecting nothing in return. No idea or positive change is too small!

Changing the world can start with one kind, simple gesture. And....go!