Well, it’s finally happened. We’re living in the future. The 2020s has a real sci-fi ring to it, doesn’t it? And if we could travel back to visit ourselves 20 or 30 years ago (without showing your age), the present might seem like a very futuristic place. We live in an era of unsurpassed connectivity and convenience. Yet the 2020s are far from the utopia they might appear to be at first glance.
We live in extremely politically divided times where the wealth gap keeps on widening and the fundamental inequalities that should have been stamped out years ago continue to persist. While we can implore our leaders, governments and even celebrities to do better for the good of us all, the biggest change is the one we make ourselves. Right here. Right now.
Here are some ways in which you can help make the world a better place in 2020…
Be kind to all around you
Kindness is a commodity that is growing increasingly rare in an age where advertising and social media are encouraging us to grow more and more self-aggrandizing. The good news is that there are no shortage of ways in which we can put a little more kindness back into the world. Instead of buying a pet from a store or breeder, consider giving an adopted pet a happy and stress free life. Volunteer some of your free time at a homeless shelter or local charity store. Rethink how much you tip. Use an app to round up your spending. Give the excess to charitable causes. Little acts of kindness every day can add up to make a huge difference.
Learn to forgive
It’s easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. The true tests come when people wrong us. When this happens, it’s all too easy to adopt a vengeful mentality. Or we build an emotional wall to keep them out. What can make a powerful difference is learning to forgive. Learn to appreciate the circumstances that lead to harmful behavior and try to remedy them. This might mean anything from helping them find drug rehab programs or simply arranging to meet and talk with them. In an era where we’re conditioned to think of ourselves as either winners or losers, it’s essential to acknowledge that there is no loss in forgiveness. None whatsoever.
Disagree respectfully
How we behave around those we disagree with says a lot about us. This is especially true when we have the pseudo anonymity of social media platforms to hide behind. Yes, people can be infuriating online. Yes, sometimes a well reasoned point can fall on deaf ears. But learn to disagree with respect and magnanimity… or get liberal with the block button.
Make some eco-friendly changes around the home
Finally, it’s important to be kind to our planet as well as the people and animals with whom we share it. Some great eco-friendly changes you can make around the home include;
- Eating less meat and dairy and moving towards a more plant based diet
- Using fewer cleaning products that introduce harsh chemicals into the environment
- Reuse, reduce and recycle more
- Use fewer single use plastics like plastic grocery bags
- Compost food waste rather than throwing it into landfill
- Give old clothes to charity rather than throwing them away
There are many, many ways in which you can be kinder to the planet… and you might even save a lot of money, too!
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