8 Ways You Can Change the World!
How can we change the world?
The fact is, anyone can change the world. Okay… we might not be able to change the WHOLE world, but every person can make a difference. Every small thing adds up to a big thing in the end. So never discount the small things that you do in your daily life.
Tomorrow happens to be Addison Owings Day in our city. That is a legit thing. Addison is my middle daughter, and the other kids used to be just a little jealous that they don’t have their own day.
Just in case you’re wondering, she is the one that decided to give herself a haircut a few weeks ago. If you missed that story, you can find it here. She is both a brilliant and a stubborn child.
How did it all begin?
It all started with a lemonade stand. This persistent daughter of mine had asked me all summer to let her start an environmental club she wanted to call The Green Team. Naturally, being a busy mother with no extra time on my hands, I continued to say no. But she finally wore me down.
In 2016, much of Texas had been devastated by historical flooding, and this was true in our area. So when Addison asked if her Green Team could hold a lemonade stand for flood victims, how could I say no? They didn’t make much money. It was about $100. She gave that money and all the baked goods we had leftover to our church, who was providing dinner for the shelter on most nights, and let them distribute it.
And the The Green Team was born.
Can a few kids really make a change?
When school started in August, Addison talked to a lot of adults about bringing the Green Team to the school. One of her goals for change was that the school recycle more to reduce waste. Finally, after some shuffling, she found a mentor in the music teacher. This wonderful lady spent time and effort helping my kiddo sort through ideas, and together they came up with a plan and a project.
Sign up sheets poured in from kids who wanted to be a part of the Green Team. Their spring project was to recycle bottles from their school lunch and use them to make a sunshade on the playground.
Addison was excited to be the recipient of a Disney Summer of Service grant for 2017, and they used these funds to buy the materials they would need for the structure. There was even a story about it in the local paper. You can read it here.
After months of saving bottles and working on the structure, the sunshade was finally finished. The kids even added an artistic touch by partly filling the bottles with colored water! They ended up making an amazing structure on the playground where kids and teachers could find solace from the hot Texas sun. But more importantly, they brought the change to the school that Addison was looking for all along: recycling.
There are now recycling bins in the cafeteria of the school where boxes once sat to collect plastics and paper. It would be hard to say how much has been recycled instead of thrown away over the last 2 years, but I know it has made a change.
So what is Addison Owings Day anyway?
On January 24, 2017, Addison was invited to the city council meeting where the Mayor honored her efforts by proclaiming that day, now and forever, Addison Owings Day. How cool!
That summer, Addison won the Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Award for a youth individual in the elementary school category at the 2017 Keep Texas Beautiful Youth and Educator Awards. The Northside Green Team won 1st place for youth program in the elementary school category. The kids got to travel to the awards ceremony in San Antonio, and Addison was asked to give a presentation of their project. Talk about a proud mom moment!
What can you do?
If you thought you couldn’t initiate change because you’re just one person, I hope you’ve learned that it only takes one person! One person to get started. One person to start planning. There are so many things you can do on your own, and so many ways you can get others involved once you’ve gotten the ball rolling. Know that every little bit counts.
And remember, changing the world isn’t only environmental. You can change the world in all kids of ways. Here are a few:
- Clean up. Spend some free time cleaning up at a park or on your own street. And take your kids! It’s important for them to learn early!
- Recycle. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds, I know. Not every city provides recycling services, but many recycling centers will let you drop off your recyclables for free. Call your local center to find out details.
- Use a refillable water bottle. You’d be shocked at the amount of plastic bottles at school that were saved from the landfills by recycling them. But refilling your own water bottle is still better than using and recycling plastic.
- Plant a garden. You may want to plant a vegetable garden so you can eat the fruits of your labor. Or maybe you’d just like some flowers and greenery. Either way, you’re providing more oxygen to the earth and nutrition for birds, butterflies, and bees.
- Donate. Not everyone can do this. But if you have the means, there are many reputable places to donate money for change. Whether you’re helping out your local SPCA, donating to help build a well to provide families in third world countries with clean drinking water, or sponsoring a child monthly through Compassion International, your gifts will be felt and appreciated.
- Volunteer. There are so many places to volunteer. Could you volunteer at a children’s hospital or nursing home? How about an animal shelter? There are so many places that are in need of genuine joy. You could be the person to bring it.
- Be an organ donor. This one is easy. All you have to do is check a box. I’ve been an organ donor since I turned 18. I don’t need my organs if I die anyway, and being an organ donor can change the lives of up to 58 people!
- Be kind. A little kindness can go a long way in changing someone’s day. Maybe they’re having a rough day and things aren’t going their way. It’s possible that they just aren’t used to receiving kindness. Genuine kindness is getting more and more rare these days. Be the exception to that rule and show people that they have value through your words and actions.
The Challenge
I hope I’ve sparked a joy and a determination in you to create change in your world, big or small. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Anyone can make a difference!
I’d love to hear how you are already changing the world, or what plans you have! Do you have big plans? Small plans? Group plans? Or just an idea for yourself? I want to know!