| Do you want to have an impact on other people's | | | | have many opportunities to be a good example |
| lives? You can! In fact, you might be doing that | | | | to your children so they can grow up to be |
| right now just by sitting in front of your | | | | responsible and respectful. |
| computer. After all, everything you do, including | | | | 6. Lend a helping hand. |
| just being who you are can make a difference. | | | | Help a co-worker learn the company's new |
| However, if you want to make a bigger, positive | | | | programs. Help take care of a sick relative. Help |
| impact on the rest of the world, you have to | | | | your neighbor clean out his garage. These little |
| take action, starting with making some changes in | | | | acts of kindness can make a big impact on other |
| your own home. | | | | people's lives. |
| 1. Recycle. | | | | 7. Plant trees. |
| You've probably been hearing this word since your | | | | Planting a tree, or several, is one of the oldest |
| third grade and if you want to make a positive | | | | ways to make an impact on the rest of the |
| impact on the environment, it's high time you | | | | world. However, it is just as true today as it has |
| start applying it. Start by reusing old bottles, | | | | always been. In fact, with the growing concern |
| newspapers and scrap pieces of paper, or bring | | | | for global warming, this simple act is even more |
| them to your local recycling center so others can | | | | necessary and more helpful than ever. |
| make good use of them. Remember, your trash | | | | 8. Volunteer. |
| could be someone else's treasure. | | | | Do you have a lot of free time on your hands? |
| 2. Save water. | | | | Instead of being a couch potato, playing video |
| Clean water is not something that will last forever. | | | | games or whining about not having enough to do, |
| In fact, studies show that more and more people | | | | why not try being a volunteer for one of your |
| are struggling to get a daily supply of clean water. | | | | local organizations? Help out at your local soup |
| Therefore, be grateful and try to use every drop | | | | kitchen, for example, or spend even just a few |
| you have wisely. You won't just be helping to | | | | hours each week at a nearby orphanage or |
| conserve the world's limited water resource. You | | | | nursing home. You won't just be making an |
| might even see a positive impact on your next | | | | impact on other people's lives. You might even |
| water bill. | | | | discover a big one on your own. |
| 3. Conserve electricity. | | | | 9. Donate to a charitable institution. |
| Turn off the oven when you're almost done | | | | It doesn't matter whether it's in cash or in kind, |
| cooking. Shut down your computer at night. Open | | | | nor does it matter how much you donate. What |
| the windows before considering turning on the air | | | | is important is the act of making a donation itself. |
| conditioner. These are just a few tips you can | | | | Just make sure you're sharing your wealth to the |
| follow to save electricity. They're pretty simple, | | | | right charitable institution so you can be sure your |
| too, but they can go a long way if you make | | | | donation will truly make an impact on other |
| them into a habit. | | | | people's lives. |
| 4. Save gas. | | | | 10. Convince others to do the same. |
| Oil price hikes and global warming are two of the | | | | Don't just stop at making an impact on others. |
| biggest issues in the world today, which is why | | | | Rather, encourage others to follow suit. You don't |
| there has never been a better time to save gas. | | | | have to give out a speech or write a book to do |
| Cut some costs while making an impact on the | | | | this, too. Sometimes, simply showing your |
| environment by riding a bike, walking or | | | | dedication through your words and actions can be |
| commuting to work instead of driving your own | | | | more than enough. |
| vehicle, unless you can afford to trade in your old | | | | Making an impact on the rest of the world can |
| car for a new, hybrid one, of course. | | | | seem like a task only for superheroes. However, |
| 5. Raise your children well. | | | | even you can make a world of difference in your |
| According to an old cliché, there are three | | | | own simple ways. You'll be glad you took the |
| main ways to make a difference in the world. | | | | initiative, too. After all, true success is not |
| The first is to plant a tree. The second is to write | | | | measured in financial gains, but in the number of |
| a book, and the third is to raise a child. Indeed, | | | | lives you've made a positive impact on throughout |
| there is no certainty that you can make a big | | | | your life. |
| impact on the lives of others, but you definitely | | | | |