Be The Change
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” — Confucius
Despite the numerous crises our country faces today there is a palpable sense of excitement in the air: people are ready and eager to begin the process of rebuilding America. Our challenge, individually and collectively, is to rise above what’s convenient or comfortable and take that important first step. Change is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be miserable and it certainly isn’t impossible!
If you’re uncertain where to begin your journey, here are some suggestions you may find helpful. If you’d like to share a personal favorite, please let me know and I’ll post it here.
As for me, I’ll be tracking my own steps over on The Journey. Self-discipline has never been a particularly strong suit of mine (I’m great with idea development but tend to lose interest in the task at hand when another idea pops into my noggin) so I’m hoping to inspire myself by documenting my goals and related progress (or lack thereof, as the case may be) for all the world to see: successes, failures, and lessons learned along the way, in all their unpolished splendor. Play along if you’re inclined: I’ll be your cheerleader if you’ll be mine!
How does your lifestyle impact the environment?
Everything we do leaves an imprint on our world: the lights we turn on (and forget to turn off), the computer we leave running all day (though it sits idly by while we’re away at work), the energy we use to heat and cool our homes, the fuel we burn driving two blocks to the 7-11 for a gallon of milk instead of walking… all of these seemingly benign behaviors and many more produce “greenhouse gases” that contribute to global warming.
I was stunned when I calculated my carbon footprint: I had no idea how negatively my everyday lifestyle was contributing to global warming, and I was equally clueless about how simple it would be to turn those negatives into positives. Even small adjustments in our daily activities can benefit our future: click the link and calculate your carbon footprint. Prepare to be surprised at the impact you’re having!
Want to help but don’t know where to begin?
VolunteerMatch is a great place to start! VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. This service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 62,000 nonprofit organizations.
Simply enter your zip code, and VolunteerMatch will display a comprehensive list of opportunities in your area, including “virtual” options which can be completed from home using the Internet. The whole site is cool, but I’m loving the “virtual” option for its versatility across the board: the work-at-home parent can “be the change” while the kids are napping, the full time employee who’s left with no energy after a long day and a long commute can still “be the change” while relaxing with their feet up, and it’s really great for those with limited mobility options.
Very cool.
Chances are pretty good that if you’re reading this, you’ll go to bed with a full tummy.
Sadly, many others won’t. As part of my commitment to being “the change I want to see in the world”, I am the self-appointed team captain of the “Blame It On Karma” virtual food drive!
Remember when you were a little kid and you’d take a can of corned beef hash to school for the food drive? This is the same thing, only it’s done on-line. Every little bit helps, so please don’t feel that you have to give more than you can afford or are comfortable with in order to make a difference. Consider eliminating something from your diet for a day (like a bag of chips or that third cup of coffee!) and donating the value of that item by clicking on the “Virtual Food Drive” image. A dollar or two is all it takes to make a serious impact in someone’s life. For every $1 you donate, the foodbank can distribute enough food for 5 meals.
I hope you’ll join the team. And if you pass this virtual food drive info along to your family and friends, think of the difference we could all make together!
Play games, have fun… make a difference!
Free Rice has to be one of the coolest games ever. Improve your vocabulary, test your knowledge of art, geography, chemistry or math: for every answer you get right, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice to the U.N. World Food program. Free Rice is partnered with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and the rice is paid for by sponsors. Very, very cool.
Akoha is a new type of “social reality” game. It’s based on the concept of “pay it forward”, but at Akoha we “play” it forward!
The game consists of a deck of cards: each card has a “mission” assigned to it, as well as a tracking number. The missions are essentially random acts of kindness and are designed to heighten the awareness of how a simple act by one person can impact the world. As the missions are carried out, the card is passed along to the recipient of the random act of kindness. The “giver” enters the card’s tracking number at the Akoha website along with a brief description of how and where he or she played the mission; the recipient confirms the mission at the website. At some point, the recipient will play the mission forward, along with the card, confirming how and where it was played, and so on. The card’s travels are tracked through Google maps, so players can see just how broad their scope of impact is by watching it travel from city to city, state to state, and even country to country.
The game is still in beta stage, but you can purchase a deck of cards at the site and be part of the testing phase. If you don’t want to do that but would still like to give it a try, let me know: I’d be happy to play a mission with you!
