World We Imagine Part 1
I feel like when I think about making the world a better place my mind instantly goes big picture. Things like climate change, poverty, hunger, abuse and war all seem like things that need to end- but I feel powerless to change those things. The more I got caught up in the tragedies and wallowed in the helplessness I felt the less I had energy to help others. It took me a long time to realize that ending wars and hunger isn't my responsibility and it isn't any other individual's responsibility (unless you're a billionaire). So starting off small within your community and asking your friends to help out at a food drive or other volunteering opportunities is the best place to start. In the large scale I agree with Novogratz and how we should be conscious of our place on earth as a global citizen- I believe that initial call to action in the excerpt is too much for the average person. We are all trying to survive and get by- and I feel like we should first focus on being a citizen in our own local communities first. How could I even begin to care about someone in China if I don't even care for a homeless person on my block? I strongly believe building a solid community that brings sustainability and opportunity for everyone before scaling it to global levels is paramount. So the first step in making the world a better place would be to volunteer at food banks, litter clean ups, shelter and events where you can build a community and uplift those less fortunate with tools to make a better life for themselves. Instead of focusing on the seemingly insurmountable tragedies we should direct that energy into our own communities.
I agree that we as individuals do not have the capacity to change global issues; the key to making a difference is to start small. I wrote this in my post too. I like your ideas of volunteering at local food banks, shelters, or participating in trash clean ups. Those are all great initatives to get involved with you local community. A next step in this process you could begin is finding a local volunteering event and send an email to our classmates to get more people involved.
ReplyDeleteHi Brandon! I really resonated with what you shared and agree that a great first step is to reach out to your direct communities. I think you touch on a very common issue for many: global issues and problems can be overwhelming. A possible next step to deepen your idea is to identify a specific community action to focus your efforts on. For example, if you feel most called to help those with food insecurity, you could look into a local food bank and bring your friends with you to go volunteer. Or you could even start something yourself by simply bringing meals you make to the homeless in Downtown LA. I remember you posted about how you have loved perfecting steak, so maybe you could find another dish to do the same with and share it with those in need.
ReplyDeleteHey Brandon! I really admire how real you got with what it means to impact change. I think you're totally right that people immediately think they need to see grand results on issues that are way bigger than us. Maybe (and hopefully) you do become a billionaire, but right now, starting small is something I completely resonate with. I also talked about just helping someone homeless on the streets of Figueroa is a great start! Whether that's an extra meal you had in your fridge or buying them a soda from CVS, these little initiatives can make a huge difference, especially if we all do it!
ReplyDeleteHey Brandon! I totally agree that starting small is the best way to go. I think the bigger you try to aim, the more overwhelmed you can get with all of the things you want to help improve. Getting involved in your local community is a great way to start making the world a better place. A potential next step you can take could be to do some volunteer work, like at a soup kitchen or similar place!
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