Making a difference...

[Alenyx]

One thing (besides the music) that has always drawn me (and probably man others here) to Michael was his attitude to the world's suffering and the 'Man in the Mirror' spirit. These are some thoughts that have always bothered me and I'm not sure if I can express them accurately...

Michael often said that he thinks it would be a sin not to nurture a talent and that you have to work really hard to be the best you can be in your field and to use the responsibilty that comes with it for good. And that you have to believe in yourself.
But what if you can't really find out what your talent is, what you're so good at that it' s worth working hard for.

Michael was given these huge talents. From a very early age it was obvious to him what his place in the world would be... Because what he did was all he ever wanted to do. And through those talents he was also given the financial means to really change something as well as an audience to spread his mission.

I'm 27 years old and I studied for 5 years to become a film conservator. In my mind I know it's important to preserve our cultural heritage, but in my heart I always think how unimportant my work is when there are people fighting every day to survive... And I'm spending so much time and energy on dead material... Can anyone relate?

I know people always say it's the little things that count, but I never feel that what I do and what I could do is sufficient. How do you combine the tremendous wish to do something worthwhile in life with the hand you were dealt?

What do you do in your professional and private life to make a difference? Does it fulfill you? How do you get over the feeling of never doing/being enough?

 

[MIST]

I began to help homeless cats 6 years ago.Before that I didn´t know we had so many homeless cats in Sweden.I thought people in Sweden cared about animals but I was wrong.
I believed we could trap and neuter the cats and find home to them even if it would take many years. We are quite many who helps the cats but still there are more who gives away the kittens for free in the beginning in the summer and in the automn we find lots of abandoned kittens who don´t know how to get food.Cats and kittens are left at the summerhouse, in the forrest.Kittens are found in plastbags in the garbageSometimes they put cat/kittens in a carton and put it in the forrest.Several cats /kittens have been saved by people who are out with their dogs, but I know some are not found until it´s too late.
It seems to be a neverending story.
But I have made a difference for those cats I have saved.
There were 40-50 adult cats in a place, kittens froze to death in the winter.We worked with them for a year and now there are only a few cats left and they are neutered, they get food and have shelters.
I have 9 cats at home and can´t give a home for more but I give money to neuter other homeless cats.I still have hope it will be better one day.

I think it´s the same helping people and animals, there are so many who needs help and I can´t do much as a single person.But I think you have to see it in smaller pieces.Your help will make a difference for the child/family you support.The child gets an education and maybe he/she will be a doctor or a teacher and help other children and they get education and help others and so on.
But it´s so sad when they got help somewhere and everything looks fine and then there comes the war and destroys everything.
However we should never give up trying to heal the world.Or at least a part of the world.

For the environment we can do little things and it will be a healthier planet.

 

[Neeve]

I can relate....I'm always asking myself how I'm making a difference in the world. I've done some volunteer work, but I feel I need to do something on a regular basis.

Careerwise, I'm currently in grad school, and hopefully starting next year I'm going to start documenting some endangered languages in South America. I don't know if that's truly helping the world, but it's calling me.

I've looked up numerous volunteer groups to join, but they all seem to clash with my classes, or are too far away for me to get there.

I don't know if anyone will be interested in this, but a band I love, have started doing some amazing work in Africa, raising awareness and money for schools, wells, and AIDS education and treatment. And there's a really cool way to get involved - you arrange a walk. Yes, a one-mile walk, anywhere. The idea is to walk one mile in someone else's shoes, and since most kids in this part of Africa have no shoes, you're encouraged to walk the mile barefoot. However, this is not required if you don't want to do that.

You sign up here: www.takethewalk.net to host a walk, and for every mile walked, Hanson (the band) donate $1, and the Take the Walk foundation donate $1 for every registered walker. And of course people can donate money if they don't want to or can't walk. So far, over 28,000 miles have been walked around the world!
I'm hoping to arrange one in my city after Christmas.

I've really connected with this project, because it shows us how everyone can make a difference. Just thought someone here might be interested!

 

[Alenyx]

These are some really great ideas. And yes I guess you have to think in smaller ranges... some days it's just harder than others...

I've opened a new thread on an area where I try to help which is here: http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2395390#post2395390


Also I'm planning on visiting a hospital for fatally ill children in the town where I work with my dog Marco. He's extremely affectionate and I think it will be great for children who will never get old enough to have their own dog to spend some time with him. When he looks in your eyes and puts his head under your hand he makes you feel you're special. They told me to get back to them in spring when some of the children can spend time outside...