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Make the World a Better Place

IN A WORLD where the news headlines are monopolized by war, death, abuse, destruction, crime, tragedy, and scandal, it is refreshing once in a while to hear good news. Every now and then we come across accounts of people who have served as positive role models, done something constructive for their communities, donated their time or money, performed random acts of kindness, or even saved lives. Their stories inspire us and momentarily give us hope that the human spirit can still conquer. They also remind us that each of us can make a difference by doing our part to make the world a better place.

Two such people I know are Dave and Flo Wagner, who have spent most of their adult lives helping people make a better life in impoverished countries around the world. In their twenties, the Wagners did their first tour in the United States Peace Corps in Africa. Since then they have been actively committed to promoting entrepreneurship and educating parents about HIV/AIDS in developing nations throughout Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, including war-torn regions like Ethiopia and Darfur.

Even after raising a large family and running successful businesses of their own, Dave and Flo—who are now in their sixties—dedicate months and years at a time to traveling to remote villages for the sole purpose of assisting people in need. Making the world a better place has become their life’s work—it is how they define themselves as human beings. They receive no monetary rewards or public accolades. Yet this is what they see themselves doing for as long as they are physically able to do it. Doing anything else would create a huge void in their lives that would inevitably lead to regret.

Making the world a better place means being a force of goodness. It means being a giver, not a greed monger. It means shining your light on others without looking for something in return. It means being a “mensch”—a person who does good deeds—which in some cultures is considered the highest compliment you could ever pay someone. Consider the extent to which you are a force of goodness. Do you go out of your way to make other people’s lives better? Do you volunteer or actively support a positive cause? Do you do your part to take care of the environment and reduce the amount of recyclable waste that goes to landfills? Do you reach out to others in need?

Making the world a better place does not have to be an overly complex or time-consuming process. Help out a friend who is hurting. Donate your extra “stuff” to charity. Visit the elderly. Show compassion to a total stranger. Make the commitment to recycle. Let people know that they are loved. Go beyond the call of duty. Leave your legacy by making the world a better place.

Leave your legacy
by making the world
a better place.

∼ What do you already do to make the world a better place?

∼ How will you improve on that?