What would you do to make a difference?
By cyjh21
@cyjh21 (160)
Philippines
April 20, 2013 5:49pm CST
I remember a story I read when I was in college.
There was a boy who was was walking along the ocean upon which thousands of starfish has been washed up during a terrible storm. When he came to each starfish, he would pick it up and throw it back into the ocean. People around him were just watching her with amusement.
After a while, a man came to him and said, "Little boy, Why are you doing this? Look at this beach. You can't save all these starfish."
The boy seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. Then, after few moments, he bent down, picked up a starfish and throw it back again to the ocean. After doing so, he looked at the man and replied:
"I saved that one."
The man was surprised at his answer. He though for a while and got inspired. He, too, bent down and helped the little boy to throw the starfish back to the ocean.
What a inspiring story. We can begin making a difference by doing single step at a time. I'll also quote one thing i heard from the Evan Almighty movie.. Making a difference is to begin with..
"One single act of random kindness at a time."
I usually throw any trash in a garbage can even if its just a candy wrapper or if no garbage can near me,?put if first in my bag and trash it later. That's just one of the things I do hoping to make a difference.
How about you? What is your single act of random kindness?
2 people like this
11 responses
@Txeru79 (13)
• Spain
21 Apr 13
Nice story, I think all people over the world should be as that boy and we would live in a best world. Unique person with a single act can turn on positive mind on other one person as the man of your story. It is little big act to try to change everything to take a better world. And the most important is that we can be able to make this litte acts, simply on our daily acts, I think that making this everyday all people in the world, we would be more human, we would keep this planet and we would have more life quality.
You know that every animal especies be careful their habitat, it's so natural than survival instinct. Why humans with our intelligence evolution not make that?
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I think the bottom line is over population.
Here we are continuing to build build build and is going further into the wilderness. The animals are coming into the newly built territory and then people appear dumbfounded meanwhile we just invaded their space.
Over population is why.
@cyjh21 (160)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
thanks.. ^^
I agree with Txeru79.
If only every man and woman, boy and girl were like that, we would be living in a world full of laughters and love but unfortunately, no.
A lot of people are living for their own good and if they do an act of kindness to others, it will surely benefit them too. h
However, we should not stop doing little things to make a difference and i believe that we will definitely influence other people somehow..
so do little act of kindness + influence people to do same + those people influence another group of people = better world! ~~^^
Yeah, EverWonder, I think it's one of the reasons.
Another one is there are still people who are so greedy that they just think of themselves, their business, and ther money.
anyways, thanks for your comments, guys.
@marguicha (215172)
• Chile
21 Apr 13
This is a wonderful story and I always think that we don`t have to wait for the neighbor to start to do anything. Even a little something will help. I also make a point of using a garbage can for everything that I need to throw. I also have a compost pile in a corner of my garden. And my garden is a mixture of flower plants, herbs and veggies. I don`t use any sort of pesticide in my small vegetable plot. That made a difference for me 2 years ago when I started chemotherapy. My oncologist forbid me to eat raw veggies because chemicals used for pest control were to harsh. I was allowed to eat my clean lettuce, arugule, chard and radiches.
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
21 Apr 13
Anything you do to help your community and those around you can change things..I firmly believe that.
I clean other peoples trash up in my neighborhood weekly. At first my neighbors that were outside would literally look at me like I was crazy..I kept doing it. After about the 4th or 5th time one of my neighbors actually said to me "why do you even bother, its just going to be that way again tomorrow" to which I replied..well at least it will be clean today. Now 4 years after starting this....my street stays clean....my neighbors get out and clean their own trash and the trash of their neighbors.
It only takes one to start....others will follow if your heart is in it.
@vycess (1588)
• Saudi Arabia
21 Apr 13
That is an inspiring story. We can start to make a difference in doing small things. I do want to be more patient and be open to other people. I'm starting to talk with my friends and control my emotions when necessary. It is good that you value our environment. Keep it up.
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
Hi , a very heart warming story ! Any small things done with a heart is enough to make a difference in one's life . Listening to a friend and giving my piece of mind and my little time is enough for make a difference in my friend's life. Everyday we can make difference even in our community by simply respecting other people especially the seniors and disciplining myself by following rules , even if no one watches like following traffic rules and observing proper hygiene by not spitting anywhere but in proper place because most i have observed so yaky spit anywhere spreading the bacteria around.
@asokavaradhana (257)
• India
21 Apr 13
Well,thats a great thing you are doing.Instead of littering outside, you just carry it.Well,i too am doing it in my efforts to keep the environment clean and better.Plus i do not find it good to see the environment deteriorating.If we care for the trees,plants and environments and garbage, things would be better.Some places have good laws to prevent these, but these things are basically for people to do and ensure on the best possible living conditions around them.In my case,well although i do these things, i would like my focus on the charity things i do in this discussion.Ever since my dad demised, every year i donate 1 per cent of my earnings in a calendar year towards charity.This is for orphans, medically ill people etc.I would like to earn more to support people which is one of the reasons i turned online earning.There is a distinct pleasure in helping others and when its not publicity stunt and things like that.Of course, i have not been able to help each and every one i encounter, but hopefully i would be help all cases which are genuine if things go well.If all of us think in some positive way, i think we can change the world for good.Thanks!
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
Whatever I can do to help, no matter how small or big.
I make a point to smile and bid a good day to passers by when I pass them on the street but I am always available for my friends and family should they need a helping hand.
The latest act of kindness is when the elevator wasn't working in our building for several days. I knew an elderly lady on the second floor who needs a walker so couldn't go down the stairs on her own but goes for a walk daily. I made a point to help her down the stairs so she could go for a walk and helped her back up when she returned, until the elevator was working again.
The best acts of random kindness are those that you keep to yourself after you have acted on them.
Lastly, I also like to remind those closest to me that I love them by telling them that I do or reminding them how good they look etc.
Sharing a smile is the best act of random kindness but the national hug a friend day is pretty special also, kind of like the story you shared with us here today. That was great. Thank you. PS: Have you seen the Youtube video "The Power of Words"? Featuring the blind man? Check it out.
@cyjh21 (160)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
yeah.. those acts of kindness which we do and tell are not genuine kindness but merely being proud and using other people's weaknesses to be known as a kind and a person with a big heart.. tsk,tsk,
anyway, this story is not mine.. i just read this when i was in college.. ^^
answer to your P.S.. not yet.. okay, I'll check it out! thanks..~~^^
@nanayangel (7879)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
Hi there Cyjh21! Welcome to Mylot!
That is a very inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it. I think that it is nice to read stories like this, about changing the world in our own little ways and inspiring other people to do the same thing, especially on mornings, which can even inspire us more to spend this day right.
In my own way, although I may not call it as acts of kindness but doing my part, I dispose my trash properly, practice waste segregation and try to recycle as much as I can. When it comes to relationships with other people, as much as I can, I try to live by the golden rule, "Do unto others what you want others to do unto you," which is the more active version of the rule.
@fajriyaniamber (89)
• Indonesia
21 Apr 13
i always throw any trash in garbage, every day and every time. always teach and help any kids who needs. but that boy really make me realize, that what i was doing until now it's cant be compared with what he has done. i'll try to do my best. cause one step we take we can change our future and also our country, right?
@cyjh21 (160)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
yes, the future of our country depends on you and me.. and any other people who are willing to make a difference..:)
we should never get tired of doing good things just because we think it has no big impact.. it has.. little by little, we can make our own countries or places better as it can be.. :)
thanks for your comment.. ^^
@fatimaobien (156)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
I always want to be a blessings to people. In whatever manner I can be, I do it; even if it means overcoming my laziness in extending help to people. It pays!
