There’s so much in our world that needs fixing that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and wonder if it’s actually possible for us to make a difference. My wife sent me the following quote from Clarissa Pinkola Estes which deals with this very thought: “Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest word, the tiniest generosity, can cause to be set in motion…. Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.” Author Sharon Salzberg agrees. As she put it, “Few people are powerful enough, persuasive, persistent, consistent, and charismatic enough to change the world all at once, but everyone has the ability to affect the three feet around them by behaving more ethically, honestly, and compassionately toward those they meet.” All it takes from you is a smile, a hug, a listening ear, or a kind word and you’ve made the world immediately around you a much better place. The challenge for us is to be more intentional and consistent in performing our kind acts.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” — John F. Kennedy
• “If you cannot feed a hundred people, feed one.” — Mother Teresa

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