Small groups can make big differences, just by doing what you love. This is Cycle Chic Sundays in Santa Barbara, Ca. Photo: Christa.Bike By The Sea via Flickr.
Sometimes I hate it that we live in a so-called globalized world. Or even that we’re so linked by the Internet.
It’s not that I don’t think it’s great that I can know about lives in, say, Japan, and what they’re struggling with. That knowledge engages my compassion and helps me grow in my caring feelings towards others.
It’s also fascinating to see some product created by villagers in a far off area, and great to know that it’s helping them dig a closer well, build a school, improve the lives of women and children, or increase their health care.
And I, of course, work on the Internet, so yeah, I love getting my thoughts out there, and reading about, watching, and listening to the stories of others.
Solving the whole world’s problems
But at other times I find it challenges my notion of what a community is. Being part of a global community can sometimes lead me to ignore the many communities I’m part of up close and in person.
A family is the smallest social unit, and it’s a community. Churches are communities. Even a book club is a community.
So when you’re feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of doing the little things that you do to conserve energy and reduce your impact on the local landfill, try not to think of the whole darn globe. Just do what you can, and then, turn to your community.
In your own small communities—from your neighborhood block to the coffee klatch you meet with once a week—find small ways that together you can make a difference. Supporting each other in the process, and seeing your actions go from the individual level to the small organizational level may be all you can or should even do.
As they said way back when, Think Globally, Act Locally. Except sometimes, forget about thinking globally. It’s enough to just Think Locally, Act Locally.
And nothing’s stopping you from doing it in style, like Cycle Chic Sundays does (even if you just like walking)!
–Lindsay Curren, Lindsay’s List
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