Coffee and Conversation #14: Make a Difference {A Link Up}

As I was jumping around blogs and reading people's updates, I came across a link up called Coffee and Conversation. 

Kalyn from Love.Laughter. Happily Ever After. and Lauren from Simply Free are responsible for this awesome link up each week. {I wish I had found this 14 weeks ago!} If you haven't checked out their blogs- do so! 

This week's questions are:

"What does it mean to you to have made a difference in this world? What are you doing to achieve that change, and how has it been made possible?"

To me, making a difference means making an effort to be less selfish. I think many people today go day to day with their heads down just thinking about what they need to get done. To make a difference we have to pick our heads up and see others around us. It does not matter if we are donating millions to a cause or a couple of dollars to a cause. Putting forth the effort is what is important. While the people with the big wallets are the ones that usually get the attention, I believe every act, whether large or small, are important. Taking the time to think of others is always a great thing. We have to have the faith in ourselves to believe that we can make a difference. We have to believe that taking the time to pick up trash we see in the parking lot, or to hold the door for a person that has their hands full, or to even just smile and wave at a person make a difference. One of my favorite quotes is "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." {William James} If there is anything growing up has taught me is- people notice. They really really do.  

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Growing up, providing service for others was always something we did in my family. It is one of the key principles of my religion and has always been important to me. While I might not have always had the best attitude at the beginning of some projects, by the end of the day I always felt so accomplished and grateful for the opportunity to serve others. Some of my favorite memories growing up are related to helping others. {Making blankets for my brother's orphanage, putting together hygiene kits, making eye patches to send to Africa, delivering 12 days of Christmas packages, etc.}

One way I believe I make a difference is with teaching. I just completed my first year of teaching, and I really believe that I made a difference this year. Not to all 150 of my students, but to a few, I made that difference. By taking the time to sit with a student(s) at lunch, or to take the opportunity to get to know them I really think that I impacted their lives in a small way. I am so grateful to have been giving this opportunity to teach this year. I fully believe these kids are our future (not to go all Whitney on you). I was responsible for their education and even if they just learned one thing... I think I made a bit of a difference. 

As I said above, it is the small things that also matter. Every month I like to join in on 30 Days' monthly RACKs (Random Acts of Kindness). These acts are never huge, but I always feel so great after doing them. The other day I was at the gas station and saw an older man collecting bottles and cans from the trash (canning is big here). I had about ten bottles in my car and I could have just drove off, but I decided to go take my bottles over to the man. Now did the .50 make a huge difference to this man? No probably not. But did a make a small difference? I would like to hope so. 

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Believing we can make a difference is extremely important. We have to have the hope that completing small acts makes a difference. If I just helped one student this year- it would have been worth it. If I can make my husband's day better- it's worth it. If I can just make one phone call to someone that is down, or buy a sandwich for someone that looks hungry- it will have been worth it. 

One person can make a difference. We just have to have faith and be willing to be a little less selfish.