Lately, there have been some huge disasters in the world around us. There's an average of 1,253 tornadoes reported in the United States each year, and the majority of them wipe out an entire town/city. Reports show 1,500 African children die daily from Malaria. Hurricane Joaquin came through and caused damage. More than 45 million people in The United States were in poverty and went hungry in 2014. Homeless shelters are growing full and people are being turned away. Presidential candidates are busy making fun of each other rather than trying to better society. People are murdering each other. The world is a mess. I, personally, think there's a little piece in all of us that wants to change the world. So, what's the problem? Money. Not everyone can afford to just take off and go to Africa to feed the children, or not everyone can pay to just rebuild an entire town. So what can you do on a budget?
1. Change Your Heart To See The Positive
Cost: $0, time, effort
Rewards: Boosts self-esteem, increases confidence, improves mood.
"You can't change what's going on around you until you start changing what's going on within you." - Unknown
2. Volunteer To Feed The Homeless
Cost: $20-30, a couple hours of your time, some sweat.
Rewards: New friends, hearing great stories, that warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach, a smile on your face for the rest of the day.
"No one ever became poor by giving." - Helen Keller
3. Smile At A Stranger
Cost: $0, the exercise of moving your cheek muscles
Rewards: New friend, maybe even saving a life because you never know what someone is going through and a simple smile just may help them get through the day.
"Smile at strangers and you just might save a life." - Steve Maraboli
4. Help An Old Lady Cross The Street
Cost: $0, being really cliché, taking time out of your walk.
Rewards: A new friend, warm and fuzzy feeling inside, making that old lady's day.
"One person caring about another represents life's greatest value." - Jim Rohn
5. Shovel Snow Out of Someone's Driveway
Cost: $10 for shovel, time, sweat, hanging in the cold
Rewards: Warm and fuzzy inside, increased relationship with neighbors
"Love your neighbor as yourself, there is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31
6. Give Money To Beggars
Cost: Around 50¢ - $5, wondering what the beggar will do with your money
Rewards: Warm and fuzzy inside, maybe feeding someone for the day, helping someone pay their bills.
"It's not your job to wonder what someone did with the money you blessed them with. Only concern yourself with the fact when God gave you the opportunity to give, you did." - Charlsley Carey
7. Donate Old Stuffed Animals To Children In Orphanages
Rewards: Making a child's day, making a child not feel as lonely anymore
"Children may not exactly remember what you said. But they will never forget how you made them feel." - Unknown
8. Give A Compliment
Rewards: Boosting someone else's self-confidence, possibly receiving a compliment back
"I can live for two months on a good compliment." - Mark Twain
9. Leave Positive Post-In Notes Around Town
Rewards: Boost someone's self-confidence, make someone's day, help someone get through the day, give someone hope
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intentions." - Unknown
10. Stand Up For Someone Being Bullied
Cost: $0
Rewards: Give someone hope, give someone a friend, maybe safe a life
"Stand up for what is right even if you stand alone." - Suzy Kaseem
11. Fill An Old Purse You Don't Use With Snacks/Sanitary Products And Give It To A Homeless Woman
Cost: $0 for purse (since it's already been purchased), $10-20 on snacks, $5-10 on sanitary products
Rewards: Fill an empty stomach, help a woman out during a rough time, making someone's day
"I believe in the therapeutic value of one woman helping another woman." - Unknown
12. Tutor A Student
Cost: $0, couple hours of your day
Rewards: Helping someone understand, bettering the future being as children are the future, the warm and fuzzy feeling when you see a child's face light up when they understand something
"Train in a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
13. Support Someone's Dream
Cost: $0
Rewards: See someone achieve their dream, give someone hope, let someone know you are on their side, boost someone's confidence (and maybe even be mentioned in their Grammy acceptance speech if their dream is on that route).
"Happiness is having a dream you cannot let go and a partner who would never ask you to." - Robert Brault
14. See The Good In Everyone Around You
Cost: $0
Rewards: Boosts your mood, influences others to do the same
"Everyone may not be good, but there's always good in everyone. Never judge anyone shortly because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." - Unknown
15. Start A Chain Reaction of Kindness
Cost: Depends on the situation, typically $0-10.
Rewards: When someone else sees you do something kind, they will feel motivated to do the same, creating a chain reaction of people doing nice things for others.
"I have this theory that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same." - Rachel Joy Scott
Total Cost: $35.50 - $90
It doesn't take much to change the world. You don't have to be a superhero with superpowers to better your community and the entire world - you can just simply be yourself. Whether you decide to go across the ocean, or simply across the street, you are changing the world. The world needs people who are motivated and dedicated, that person could be you. Don't be like John Meyer whose waiting on the world to change - get up and change it yourself.
