The world is broken.
There are countries at war. There are terror attacks occurring all over the world. There are countries without food, water, or shelter. There is still an unbelievable amount of racism, homophobia, and general hate in the world. It needs to stop.
I refuse to believe that it can't be fixed.
Over the course of November, whether it was for Remembrance Day or in response to the various terror attacks, my social media sites were flooded with love, gratitude, and hope. Despite the tragic reasons, there was something very uplifting about the support and the sense of community I saw for the world.
I truly believe that we can make a difference in the world and change it for the better. Like a drop of water in a pond, the ripple of what we feel for ourselves will move outward. So I propose the following, for you and for myself:
Start by loving and respecting the self.
Be kind.
Follow by showing love and gratitude for those in your immediate community (family and friends). Be in the moment. Take the time to indulge in the experience you have with your friends and family.
Support an organization or cause that is important to you. This will be different for every individual. For me, I value the arts & culture, and the environment. For a few years, I have been donating a small amount of money each month to World Wildlife Fund of Canada, and Greenpeace Canada as my way of helping the environment. I try as much as possible to reduce my waste, and I recycle wherever I can. I am looking to be more active with these organizations through various participatory positions (beyond donating money).
I am an active participant in arts & culture through various performance opportunities. I am looking forward to a long career in the arts & culture industry, whether that be as a performer or behind the scenes in some capacity. I live for the arts. I will always advocate for arts & culture in our communities.
I believe that the world would be so much more amazing if every individual did something in support of the causes they are passionate about. Imagine every person donating time, money or services in support of something positive! It may be the preservation of the environment and/or endangered species. It may be to help the homeless get off the street. It may be to help those with mental illness. It may be to help those with physical or mental impairments. It may be to help countries in need. The point is, if we are all helping in some way to make the world a better place, so much change would be in action!
If you do choose to support a cause, do your due diligence and research, research, research! There are hundreds of organizations that ask for support. Choose your cause(s) and then choose 1 or 2 organizations within that cause that resonate with you. Do what you can and want in support of that organization!
"If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a
flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit
from our peace."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Until next time,
Tif xo
What causes and/or organizations do you support? Do you do anything else to make a difference in your community and/or the world?
