Do Something

“No one can do every thing, but every one can do some thing.”

In the last month I have heard that expression in different ways and in different venues- in a radio interview, during news reports and in my church class. Regardless of how it was conveyed, it has made me wonder, what is the “do-some-thing”, that I can do.

My grandmother was a do-some-thing kind of gal. She wasn’t any one “special” except in the eyes of those who loved her and those she encountered. She was generous, encouraging, interesting and interested in others. She looked for the good in all situations. She saw needs and she did what she could to meet those needs regardless of her age and circumstances.

In her last twenty years of life (she lived to be 97) she lived near my parents in Massachusetts. At that point in her life, she was a widow and fiercely independent. (She lived alone in her home until the last two weeks of her life when she was hospitalized.) Every day she would drive to the beach to “sniff the salt air”. But she also went there to pick through the trash and recycling looking for bottles and cans that had deposits. Those she would redeem at the store and use that money to pay for postage to send items of clothing (she either made or bought at a local charity shop) for a charity she had supported for years: Christian Appalachian Project. I never knew why she picked that project but she was faithful in supporting it for years. It was one of the some things that she did for others.

Recently in our church class we were talking about all sorts of global and personal situations. One of the participants shared about his father. His dad was another one who did what he could for those who were around him. He said that while his dad was very much aware of what was going on in the world, he didn’t focus on that. Rather his father focused on doing what he could for the people around him.

I’ve been thinking about how I can help those who are in need around me. How can I be a blessing to someone else? I have shared before that I have a small bin in the front of our home to collect non-perishable food items for a local food bank. That seems to be a tangible, easy way for me to help. My neighbors and friends have been very generous. The box also reminds me and keeps me accountable to pick up a couple extra boxes of pasta, cans of beans, hearty soups, or cereal when I go to the store.

Of course, isn’t that what we can do? Impact those we can, however temporarily. Regardless of our circumstances, we should make life’s journey less of a burden and more of a blessing for someone.

We may never know what those expressions and actions of kindness, niceties and quite frankly, manners will impact someone else. But the science is showing that these kindnesses can benefit us: helping others benefits ourselves more than we know. When we help others-serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and other endorphins are released. These substances help us feel good. In my case of collecting the items for the food pantry, it is just a short walk to the food pantry from my home and it brings me such joy to pull my little wagon full of food there.

Science is proving that which God knows and knew when God created us: It is more blessed to give than to receive. On so many levels. Sadly, those who are takers in this world will never realize that benefit. Because ultimately besides all the physical benefits of giving, that benefit of blessing brings peace and love.

There is a line in the old movie, “While You Were Sleeping” that I think about whenever I think about small actions of kindness. One of the characters is despondent thinking that he hasn’t done anything significant or special in his life. Another character who has watched him for years says encouragingly, “You give up your seat every day on the train.” He replies, “Well. But that’s not heroic.” To which she replies- “It is to the person who sits there.”

What about you? Do the problems and situations of the world get you down? What is going on in your neck of the woods? is there anything, even some little thing, that you can do to help? Or, perhaps you already are doing some thing. What have you been doing? How can that encourage someone else?

In these times of difficulty for so many people and while global situations may seem overwhelming, maybe we should take a step back. Maybe we just need to do- some-thing for the people around us who need help. Our do-some-thing might not require much effort: We just need to pay attention to what is going on around us and have a little imagination. Perhaps, all we need to do is give up a seat for someone who needs to sit down.

A Few Ideas:

• Having a holiday party? Ask guests to bring one non-perishable item for the local food pantry.

• Start an ongoing collection box in your neighborhood for non-perishables for your local food bank. Or, if you live in an area where your vegetables are still growing- plant some extra vegetables in order to give away the fresh produce.

• Pray for others. What better gift to give to someone else, than to bring their petitions to the One who created all of us and knows exactly what we need and what needs to happen in our lives.

Ping Pong Diplomacy and other simple acts

I heard an interesting story on the BBC radio talking about how the game of ping pong was instrumental in changing the course of diplomacy. The year was 1971 and the US had little interaction with China since the 1949 revolution. There had been no diplomatic ties, little trade and few contacts between the US and China. Yet, due to a single act of kindness, the US Ping Pong team was the first delegation in decades to visit the country.

According to the BBC story, one of the nine American players missed his bus to the World Championship being held in Japan that year. A Chinese player invited the American to join them on their bus which was also traveling to the tournament. From that little interaction a friendship was formed. In less than a week afterwards, the Chinese government invited the US team to China and to play in exhibition matches. In turn, those exhibitions paved the way for US and Chinese diplomatic interactions.

In listening to the story, I was reminded that it is the little things in life that make the big difference. I also am reminded that it doesn’t take much, or not as much as one would think, to make a change in the world.

Dr. Erica Chenoweth is a public policy professor at Harvard. She has co-written a book: Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolence Conflict. In it, she and her team of researchers looked at all world conflicts- violent and non-violent campaigns from 1900- 2006. They were surprised that the most effective for lasting change were those non-violent campaigns. And what was more surprising it didn’t take that many people- 3.5% of the population to affect change. There just has to be certain criteria and preparation in place.

Dr. Chenoweth’s findings suggest that the individual can make a difference. She was researching conflicts and political campaigns. I think her research can also be applied to various societal norms: it doesn’t take that many people to affect change. I think of Nancy Brinker, sister to Susan G. Komen. Nancy made a promise to her sister to do something to help the women in the hospital who had breast cancer. Suzy Komen wanted the waiting rooms to look better. Nancy Brinker did more than that. After Suzy died, she established the Susan G. Komen Foundation in 1982. Two years’ later was the first Race for the Cure with 800 participants. By 2014 there were over 150 race events worldwide and the foundation has raised billions of dollars for research.

Nancy Brinker is a mover and shaker. But we all have the opportunity to make an impact with our actions. I think it is a matter of concentric circles- little actions, kindnesses, steps that each of us take daily which can/may lead to more people being kind and thoughtful which in turn can lead to a change in society. Individually, it is a good practice to intentionally do kind, small actions. Obviously, it is good for the recipient but more importantly it is good for the one doing the kindness. There is a feeling of goodwill (as well as all the “feel good” endorphins, dopamine, serotonin) for oneself and others. It provides purpose (as in Nancy Brinker’s case) and brings people together in a sense of belonging and community.

In the past it would’ve been called positive peer pressure (not sure if it is still called that): the group norm affects the individual behavior and visa versa. One’s friends or peers encourages one to engage in positive and beneficial behaviors.

Recently, my sister returned from a trip to Norway. She said that Norwegians are very much engaged in practicing sustainability. They have an unofficial campaign: “five items per year” which encourages individuals to purchase only five new (to them) items a year. For the one thing newly purchased, another item has to go. (Presumably for someone else to find “new”.) She said that a friend might comment on a new jacket- “Is that new?” one might ask. “What did you get rid of?” Positive peer pressure encourages the individual to think sustainably and intentionally before purchasing something.

What about you? Do you practice any small actions? What are they? Have you seen any impact from them?

A couple of months ago, I had an idea of putting two plastic storage boxes on my front lawn with a sign on them saying that I was collecting for our local food bank. The idea came to me as I was walking our dog and remembering that at our previous home, various neighborhoods would have food drives. Someone on the street would have a collection sign and box. So, I placed my box on our lawn, sent out an email to my friends in my neighborhood bookclub, invited them to purchase an extra can or box whenever they went to the store, asked them to fill the box and to share the idea of gathering food with their networks. In the past couple of months, we have collected over 150 pounds of food for the local food bank.

The other day, I was alerted by a neighbor that my boxes were missing. Not sure if a newly hired, ambitious trash collector picked it up or if someone took it. Regardless, my boxes were gone. I sent a note out to the local “Nextdoor Neighbor” site asking if anyone inadvertently took the boxes, to keep the food if they need it but please return the boxes. Meanwhile I put out another box.

I received a message from a woman who wanted to help with the cost of the new boxes. Instead I encouraged her to start her own collection box in her neighborhood.

Little things and positive peer “pressure”. I remembered how one person made a difference in my old neighborhood. Hopefully I am making a difference in my current one. And now there might be impact in another neighborhood.

While my food box may not change global relations like the US Ping Pong team or lead to global medical research, the thought behind those acts of kindness are the same. It only takes a simple act- sponsoring a charity race, giving a ride to one who needs it or putting out a box for food - to be part of change.

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