Recently I s
aw an article about a mom who decided to start a nonprofit organization in her city that linked local families together for a food and letter exchange. Families who were in need of food and supplies were connected with families who were able to help out. What a liked about this program was that it was on a personal level. The families wrote to one another and created friendships that would last a lifetime.
If you could make one monumental positive change while here on earth, what would it be? Inspire the Nestwork by leaving a comment about this positive difference we can make.
Let’s make a difference!
Mama Hen
I find it hard to deal with hypotheticals, so let me give you a real example. This is the thing I hold up to myself on the hard days, when I wonder what I’ve achieved in my life. When I was about sixteen, we went on work experience from school. I worked in a primary school, with 4-5 year old children, and there was one girl who was an elective mute: no-one had heard her speak a word inside school. Over the course of the week or two (I don’t remember) that I was there, I spent a lot of time building up her trust – and on my last day when we were doing reading, for the first time she joined in and read out loud from the book. And after that, I’m told, she talked more in school. So I feel that, however small, I once made a difference to someone’s life.
There are so many ideas floating through my head! But something that has made an impact on me lately, is the slants in our media. I think a lot of our bickering and fear factors come from a media that is not just sharing facts, but opinions. If we knew only the truth about issues, then maybe we would be able to see clearer solutions and work towards a common good- not a common opinion.
Do you know that there are over 1 million homeless children in America??? Wouldn’t that be a nice fact to know when politicians are fighting over illegal immigration, wars in different countries, funding abortions? So many big problems get pushed aside because someone’s voice is louder.
My husband and I have decided to adopt a child within the next five years. We have been trying for three years to have a family, and just recently after two losses we were able to stay pregnant (due anyday). BUT after our losses, heartaches and struggles, we decided that we could have a family by adopting…and give all our love to a child who needs and deserves a good life!
We are very excited to do this! And are excited that we can still have a big family and bring such a difference to others!
This is so wonderful! Brilliant!
God Bless You…
Thank you so much!!
Oh Mama, I love ya but you make me think too hard. I know that the difference I would make would have something to do with creating awareness for developmentally and physically disabled kids/adults. Specifically, I’d like to see adolescents and teens volunteer more with that special demographic. Hopefully we could smash the heck out of ignorance and cause a community to form.
What a thought provoking question! I have 2 very important cause that I hold near and dear.
1. Childhood Obesity- I used to work for a parks and rec dept and started several different programs to fight this epidemic. Kiddie Kooking was a program designed to bring children together and let them cook healthy meals and snacks that require little to no adult help. Kiddie Kommotion was a program that showed children that there are more ways to stay active than can be found in your traditional sports. We hiked, rock climbed, did yoga, and Tai Kwando among many others. I loved seeing the children have fun doing something that was so non traditional.
2. I am very involved in many different programs that help win the battle of cancer. It is so scary to think that none of us knows if we or our children will be the one getting diagnosed in 5, 10, 25 yrs from now. The more we do now, the better our chances in the future.
One simple thing that I can think of, is for us to end our contributions to factory farming practices globally and live with more compassion- towards the animals, the environment and the needlessly hungry!
Step 1: Know where your food is coming from! Is it local? Is it produced by a factory farm? Do a little digging to find out- for example: The recent egg scare wouldn’t have been so horrible if factory farming didn’t exist! Know your food source! If the food farm is a mystery- DONT BUY IT!
Step 2: Consider 1 meat free meal a week or month. The meat farming industry is growing in rapid proportions. Thus causing cattle ranches to be built up on precious acreage of rainforest. (The rainforests are so vital to our world- not only from a environmental aspect either!) One POUND of beef, just one pound- takes 441 gallons of fresh water. One steak equals 6 months of showers!!
With SO many children in the world without fresh water to drink- this certainly puts things in perspective…
Step 3: Don’t be wasteful! If you are headed to a big box store and buy the uber-massive box of whatever to save money, that’s great! {If you are going to use it!} Our wasteful ways here in the US are contributing to not only more pollution, but we are inadvertantly causing harm to the imporverished families in other parts of the world. How? Our more, bigger and cheaper philosophy feeds the cruel cycle of unfair labor practices and children working in dangerous mills and plants. Think it through before you buy the biggest, cheapest box of whatever it is next time at the store.
Buy simply changing a few things in our daily lives, we can all make an impact locally and globally.
I encourage all of us mothers to lead our families in more compassionate living- more compassion to others, the world and the creatures who live here.
I feel if as a family unit we could decide to take the first tiny step towards recycling it could make a huge difference. I started with my plastics. Yes it’s a hassle and yes I don’t benefit right now from it but someday my kids kids’ kids may.
One trip a week how hard is that to grab the bags and go? Can’t hurt right? Maybe in your neighborhood ask the neighbor to the left & right if they want to start and each of you could rotate weeks. It’s not that hard…
Thanks Nikki
The one thing we can *all* do to make everlasting change on the world is raising good people. If everyone taught their child right from wrong and solid morals, the world would be a better place. I’d like to think by raising well-mannered, smart, resourceful, kind children, it will lead to a better future for those around them.
I totally agree!
I second that motion too! It is so hard sometimes to raise our children this way, as it seems easier at times to just overlook bad behavior or let them get away with things (’cause they wear us down & tire us out!). If every child had a firm grasp of respect for themselves and others, the world would most certainly be improved. I love this idea because it is something we as moms/individuals can do, starting today.
I completely agree with Nicole M. That really is one thing that we all can do! That is my hope at least for my boys and I can only hope that they will raise their kids better then I did them!
But I think I would also like to say that I would want to drastically change our system we have for foster care and all of the children out there that don’t have loved ones to care for them. NO child should get lost in the system and it isn’t right that some kids get placed in worse situations then they were taken out of. Someone really needs to rethink this program and help these kids.
Wow! What an awesome thing. I think just to be known as some one who loved and helped, who was full of compassion–whether in the big things or small. Such a good thing to think about!
Good Question! I would say I felt my non profit work contributed to abused and at-risk children. I also think raising a kind thoughtful child is one of the most significant contributions we can make as parents.
Our local electric utility company will allow you to pay someones electric bill anonymously. You can do this for friends or family that you know are struggling. You don’t have to pay the whole bill, just part of it will help!
Come by when you can…
That’s awesome! What a blessing this would be!
Oh goodness- how wonderful!
This would so benefit the elderly who are on fixed incomes and struggle to make ends meet… I love this idea!
I love the idea that you posted. The biggest impact that I would like to make is in letting everyone know that they are important. No matter who they are or what they do… EVERYONE is important… Everyone matters… Every story needs to be told… I would love to have a coffee shop where people could come for free coffee/donuts and where for just a moment they could be important. A place where everyone matters.
Oh- another thing- loving on families who have gone through miscarriage/loss of a child… whether it be providing meals, remembering their loved ones, sending packages… etc.
One thing that I personally try to do is to put others before myself whenever I can. Showing kindness and friendship is so much easier than selfishness and exclusion. If we all did this, we’d find the world was a much nicer place to be immediately. x
Oh.. that is a tuff one… I can’t come up with anything at the moment, But I wanted to say Thank you for inviting me to join your blog; following you on GFC.
Will look around and join in soon, I promise
Melanie
http://www.twoboysonegirlandacrazymom.com
The difference I want to make in people’s lives is to give them a safe place to share their inner struggles in person, kind of a bridge for if they need to see a professional therapist. There are plenty of people who haven’t been listened to in years – just think of the marriage, parent-child relationships that can grow and thrive just from a tweak in their communication! I get excited just knowing how this can build up people from the inside out!
this is one genuine act of generosity! it’s a simple idea yet for sure it’s very effective since it’s more in a personal level =)
When my husband and I were still on the earlier stage of our marriage, we used to dream of having an orphanage – we would always say, “if only we’re rich enough to fund it”.. we’re still not rich but we manage to extend help in whatever way we can..we also try to instill the value of helping out to our children..at their young age, we expose them to the realities of life by showing them (through the internet) how other unfortunate children live and we hope that someday, when they grow up, they can be part of making a bigger change for society..
JDaniel hates to see trash in store parking lots. He points to it and declares, “A mess.” I started to pick up the less messy pieces of trash and put it in the trash to show JDaniel that it is important to take care of the environment. If there is a trashcan nearby it hasn’t a problem to pick up the corner of a bag or smashed can and carry it to the trash.
It can be a problem when there is trash all around where I park and/ or it looks really gross.
Mine is simple, yet I think it would make a great impact, especially here in the US. I want to change the law and give more time to working mothers to stay home longer before going back to work. The longer they can stay with their baby, the more they can bond with them and breastfeed longer if they choose to. Spending time with a baby longer, especially during the formative months/years, will make a great impact on a child’s life. Now, if every child and mother are given this opportunity, I think It will make a difference in the long run… I don’t know exactly what kind of difference, I just know that it is a positive one.
That is such a great idea. I used to belong to something similar called the Box Project, you were matched with a family that needed some help and you had to send them a box every month with useful household items, school supplies, etc. We did it for years and developed a great relationship with our family! Thanks for the post!
I’m liking opportunities where I can use my time and not necessarily money to help someone.
There’s so much I’d love to do to make an impact in this world for hurting wives and, as a result, hurting children. I have no idea how or when or where, but all I can do now is follow God’s plan for me TODAY… my own kids, my husband, and my house. Who knows what tomorrow holds.