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How often have we…Littered?  Lied because the truth was hard? Boasted what we had in the face of those less fortunate? Fought with someone out of pride?

Are you having a hard time answering? Maybe I should revise the questions.

How often have we… Picked up trash and recycled it? Told the truth even though it was easier to lie? Shared what we had with the less fortunate? Conceded to a fight for the sake of peace?

Still having difficulty? No worries, it wasn’t supposed to be easy.

Pondering…
I was eight years old when my parents took me to watch a movie that didn’t quite make sense but intrigued me nonetheless. It was a story of a seemingly ordinary twelve-year old boy. His teacher inspired him to make a difference in the world. He believed, with determination and conviction, he could make the world a better place. Impossible?

Not so. The idea was simple and successful. His strategy? Pay it forward. Do three good deeds for three people (anyone, a stranger even) and, rather than ask for something in return, request that each of them do the same to three other people. The good deeds will then multiply exponentially, spreading kindness, charity, and understanding throughout the world. Think of a ripple effect without end or a “bottomless” pyramid.

It’s easy enough for an eight year old to comprehend (I haven’t seen the movie since). The smallest of ideas, words or actions may have the biggest effect. But many of us fail to notice these small things. We’re too troubled with the big picture to consider solutions in seemingly petty deeds.

Need more proof? Research on the broken window theory (a real system which was used in countless cities across the world and proven successful) – the easiest way to solve the big problems is to solve the small ones first.

Try to imagine what would happen if everyone took on this objective: to make a better world. It does seem like a long shot, but maybe like the movie, it’s not as impossible as it seems.

What if we all worked together?

Preventing large corporate factories from manufacturing polluting products isn’t the only way to stop Global Warming. Maybe if just a few more people started conserving energy (i.e. turning of the lights) and utilizing our resources wisely (i.e. reusing scratch paper), there wouldn’t be an excess of greenhouse gases.

Impeaching officials in the government isn’t the only way to stop corruption and deception. Maybe if the trivial lies weren’t told to begin with, there wouldn’t be any crucial ones.

Giving millions to the poor isn’t the only way to solve poverty. Maybe if those more privileged would only share and be more charitable there wouldn’t be poor people at all.

Stopping the war in Iraq isn’t the only way to achieve World Peace. Maybe if there were a little more cooperation and tolerance between individuals, whole countries wouldn’t fight.

THINK BIG but work SMALL OR Aim HIGH but start LOW.

So let’s start with ourselves: Be agents of change. Don’t plant small seeds (litter, lie, fight, etc.) that could eventually grow into large problems. Rather do good deeds, no matter how insignificant they may seem, and allow them to spread into the world (ala pay it forward).

Imagine how beautiful the world would be if we all did our small part in planting good seeds.

As busy as a bee pollinating the world,
Patricia

P.S. Maybe a good explanation to why I wrote about this is my most recent book: Freakonomics, which I highly recommend you to read if you found this post the least bit interesting.

Credit: Pictures taken by Gerard Baron (used with permission)