The Art of Doing.

[Milk-Drops]

I think in our modern society, we spend to much time talking about how the world is messed up or how we could change it for the better. I have stumbled into this slump myself quite a few times. I have found though, that all the discussion in the world doesn't help problems but just facilitates our need to complain about such problems, where we feel we are accomplishing something, when the reality is that we aren't doing anything at all.

So I think I'm going to make a point to do something once a week that impacts someone's life and helps subtract from world suck. I am inspired by the Vlog Brothers on Youtube who made a huge following by doing projects of just trying to decrease negativity and focusing on unity. This has inspired me to do my best to produce something positive for the world.

I think this is the way to actually help out, not through argument but through action. So I think maybe we could use this thread to share with each other ideas of what we can do to maybe help people in our area with the little things, or the big things. What are we doing to help those that we think need help.

This isn't about politics, religion, or any of that conflated stuff. Its about helping people or sharing something.

So in my first act, I'm going to donate my spare clothes to a friend that lost everything in a fire recently. Its not much, but he has a family and they could use whatever I can spare.

So, anyone else doing anything to decrease world suck?

 

[RachelKeeth]

I get your point, but I believe looking what is going around in the would and being able to see what the problems are and how to fix them are a good thing. You know the saying "Those who do not learn the past are doomed to repeat it"? Sorta like that, we can learn from others mistakes. Also sometimes there are problems in this world that need to be fixed but a lot of people don't see it and it helps to be able to know what you are talking about so if you believe it is a problem you can show it to people; just as Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games to show some things that are wrong with out country and as a warning. It is very important to act as well though, we can't just have thinking about things and not actually doing something to change things. I think it is an important balance.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Amen, Meatball! I agree 100%

My job is to treat substance abusers and compulsive gamblers and help them find a path to rational thinking and living. But that isn't enough. So I've been putting together a PowerPoint presentation for churches that teaches parents how to talk to their kids of all ages (its never to early to start) about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, porn, etc.

I've also decided to educate churches, schools, police departments about compulsive gambling. I've lived through it personally, and I have tended to think others know about it. But sadly, they don't. It is more addictive than drugs or alcohol.

Good moves, right? But while I've put together the presentations, I haven't acted on getting them "out there." So, starting today, thanks to your post, I'm going to start making contacts and making certain people get these vitally important messages.

Thanks, MBS! You've inspired me!

 

[Sparkey]

The "Art of Doing" reminds me of a story (what doesn't?) - I'm feeling older (wiser) every time I say that, but here goes...

So, when my youngest was 4 years old, he gave my his hand puppet on my way to work saying, "I want you to have Kermit today."
He said something about me not getting lonely at work which I took to mean that sometimes he missed me when his daddy was away.

It was the proud father who displayed the green hand puppet to his co-workers that day. At the end of the day (I was working in a 6 story office building where 5 of the 6 were rented by my company), and as I exited the building, Kermit was with me. On the stairway, just a couple paces ahead on my path was a young lady, smoking a cigarette. I pretended not to notice her but had slipped the hand puppet, who with a mind of his own, found his way to giving a quick little kiss-on-the-cheek to my almost dejected co-worker.

The words, "That just made my day," were heard and evoked a smile in return. It wasn't much but the "Art" of kindness is really a gift that looks for large opportunities in the small things of life. They are few, and they are treasures.

 

[farouk]

I get your point, but I believe looking what is going around in the would and being able to see what the problems are and how to fix them are a good thing. You know the saying "Those who do not learn the past are doomed to repeat it"? Sorta like that, we can learn from others mistakes. Also sometimes there are problems in this world that need to be fixed but a lot of people don't see it and it helps to be able to know what you are talking about so if you believe it is a problem you can show it to people; just as Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games to show some things that are wrong with out country and as a warning. It is very important to act as well though, we can't just have thinking about things and not actually doing something to change things. I think it is an important balance.

Hi Rachel:

So Suzanne Collins, what are her writings like? don't think I've read any of her books.

Blessings.

 

[RachelKeeth]

Hi Rachel:

So Suzanne Collins, what are her writings like? don't think I've read any of her books.

Blessings.

Her writing is wonderful. She can weave a wonderful story with meaning and messages all throughout it without it seeming like a message and at the same time have wonderful, but life-like, characters and plot. This topic reminded me of her books because she wrote them to get her message across and knew she could best do it through a story. I think it is really neat how we can all impact those around us, if we just look for a way.

 

[farouk]

Her writing is wonderful. She can weave a wonderful story with meaning and messages all throughout it without it seeming like a message and at the same time have wonderful, but life-like, characters and plot. This topic reminded me of her books because she wrote them to get her message across and knew she could best do it through a story. I think it is really neat how we can all impact those around us, if we just look for a way.

Rcahel: Okay, ty. I was looking and I think her Hunger Games is now a film as well, right?

Blessings.

 

[RachelKeeth]

Rcahel: Okay, ty. I was looking and I think her Hunger Games is now a film as well, right?

Blessings.

Yeah, and the second book has a movie coming out in November. The books are better but the movie is really good too.

But I don't want to take this thread off track.

 

[Milk-Drops]

Thank you everyone for responding. Thank your Sparrow and Numbers for your responses. Its great to know that you guys are impacting your community. Thanks for also sharing Rachel.

 

[Claudya]

I volunteer in a senior people's residence, doing stuff like taking people for walks who can't walk on their own any more or need a wheelchair. It's very sad to observe the situation in that place, the staff have way too little time to take care of all of their inhabitants. And many of them don't have relatives so noone comes to visit them. They are basically just sitting around, deteriorating a bit more every day.
Also, there are a lot of people that are unemployed, but physically and mentally fit, who spend their time hanging out in front of the supermarket drinking beer, or watching super stupid TV shows all day. And they complain about having no purposefull thing to spend their time with.

So why can't we get the unemployed and bored fellows to volunteer to spend a few hours every week with some elderly persons that would be alone otherwise?
It's not gonna replace the senior people's families and it's not gonna replace the unemployed people's job. But all involved people would benefit.

So I'd love to get people to volunteer more. But no idea how to accomplish that.


There are a few other things I'd love to do. There's an awesome single ministry in Germany that I'd love to support. And I'd love to do something to support persecuted christians in other parts of the world. I'd love to study self defense and maybe teach people (especially girls/ women). And I really want to fight against sexism. I'd love to do something to help immigrants or asylum seekers.

There's so much to do and we have only one life each. That's so frustrating. Why would God want us to be so limited????????

 

[Milk-Drops]

I volunteer in a senior people's residence, doing stuff like taking people for walks who can't walk on their own any more or need a wheelchair. It's very sad to observe the situation in that place, the staff have way too little time to take care of all of their inhabitants. And many of them don't have relatives so noone comes to visit them. They are basically just sitting around, deteriorating a bit more every day.
Also, there are a lot of people that are unemployed, but physically and mentally fit, who spend their time hanging out in front of the supermarket drinking beer, or watching super stupid TV shows all day. And they complain about having no purposefull thing to spend their time with.

So why can't we get the unemployed and bored fellows to volunteer to spend a few hours every week with some elderly persons that would be alone otherwise?
It's not gonna replace the senior people's families and it's not gonna replace the unemployed people's job. But all involved people would benefit.

So I'd love to get people to volunteer more. But no idea how to accomplish that.


There are a few other things I'd love to do. There's an awesome single ministry in Germany that I'd love to support. And I'd love to do something to support persecuted christians in other parts of the world. I'd love to study self defense and maybe teach people (especially girls/ women). And I really want to fight against sexism. I'd love to do something to help immigrants or asylum seekers.

There's so much to do and we have only one life each. That's so frustrating. Why would God want us to be so limited????????

Maybe to encourage us to reach out to each other and treasure what we have, and to see that since life is so short, we should spend time with each other making life better.