Making a Difference
On March 11, 2020, WHO officially labeled COVID-19 a pandemic. After nine months of social distancing and safer at home orders, most us have had enough of this doom and gloom year. We are gleeful and hopeful for 2021 to bring back some normalcy. As we plan our New Year’s resolutions, we re-consider what is important to us. If the challenges we faced in the pandemic of 2020 are having you reflect on your desire to make a difference in the world, rest assured there are many ways to fulfill this goal. Start with small ways that can make a big difference, continue with a plan of “doing no harm,” and strive to achieve making a real impact.
Even though we want to “give back” and “make a difference,” philanthropy sounds expensive, time consuming, and onerous. There are, however, some simple ways to achieve the objective. At a time when small businesses are going under rapidly, try to support local proprietors. Although you might not feel comfortable going out to eat, buy take-out or buy a gift card instead. Since gyms were closed and you might have gained some weight staying home, try challenging yourself with fitness for a cause. StickK is one option to stay on track with your goals, then donate the money to a charity OR anti-charity depending on whether you hit your goal. Thank a Serviceman through Operation Gratitude to support their effort and bring a little sunshine to their day. For our four-legged friends, make a Pillow for Paws to bring comfort and love to shelter animals. These are all opportunities with little expense, time, or effort.
You might want to do more with your annual goal setting by following the philosophy of “do no harm.” This would require following a course of action which you think is worthwhile, helpful, or useful. To me, doing no harm is in alignment with taking care of the environment. Simple recycling is contributing to a heathier planet. But there are many creative ideas to recycle such as helping soldiers by donating Books for Soldiers. Give electronics to schools that have electronic recycling programs which help those schools earn money by accepting donations of cell phones, ink cartridges, and handheld devices. Upcycle old furniture, doors, windows or just about anything. Look for ideas at Black Dog Salvage. Be a more caring consumer by purchasing LESS and items that last. Products that wear out quickly causes landfills to overflow with non-biodegradable trash. Look to sites like Buy Me Once for guidance. If you have extra clothing, they make great donations instead of letting them clutter your closet. If your cabinets are bursting with unused craft supplies, check with local schools, community after-school programs, or even an assisted living facility. It is all about getting creative and thinking how your stuff could become recycled, upcycled, or used by someone in need instead of doing harm to the environment.
A BHAG (Big Hairy Ass Goal) of yours might be to really make an impact. I tend to call these legacy goals which make a difference long after we are gone.
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees; under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
- Nelson Henderson
Trees help clean the air we breathe. They play a key role in capturing rainwater as well as reducing the risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Even one tree can encourage biodiversity by being a home to mammals. plants, insects, fungi, and moss. Planting trees will leave a positive impact on the environment, but also beautifies and may even produce fruits, nuts, or syrup. We intend on planting more than 600 seedlings to help prevent erosion around our creeks which will be enjoyed by future generations. Although trees are a perfect legacy goal with significant environmental impact, there are other virtuous objectives you and your family may want to strive towards.
How do you discover your dreams to make a difference? It starts by asking well thought out questions like, “What would you like to do to improve and promote the causes you care about within your community?” “What can your family do to impact present and future generations of the family?” Once you define your goal, it can be achieved. It could start small, grow toward a philosophy (i.e., do no harm) or generate the biggest impact even after you are gone. What are your impact goals for the New Year?
