Local Hero

I love meeting positive people in unexpected places - the kind of people who work the ordinary jobs of life, and do it diligently. They take interest in really connecting with others around them, whether it’s family, co-workers, customers, or their bosses. People can feel this genuine positive energy when they come across it. It’s authentic, caring, and loving with no strings attached. This is what life should be about, and these everyday people are a reminder that we can make a big difference within our local community through small actions.

While it may be well meaning for us to want to help our on a large scale, commit time to the Peace Corps, or try to change the world by our political theories and ideas - these ideas can leave us with less energy to actually apply ourselves and be effective. We often don’t know what to believe on the news. We often don’t know what charitable organizations are actually trustworthy and transparent with their finances. We need to take actions through everyday living and “be the change we want to see in the world.”

If we measure success in terms of quantity, there is essentially no way of knowing how far your impact is reached, and deciding how much is “enough.” Quantity doesn’t always mean quality. For example, we could make 100 sandwiches to give out to homeless people, which is great, and they could have a meal. Or, we could spend the time, individually, and work with people to rehabilitate them into working and finding opportunities to provide for themselves. The latter would required more time with less people being effected at once, but would ultimately achieve further lasting results.

Our families need us the most, then our community, then the world. We need to work from the core outwards. If we have peace in our homes and everyday lives, then we are capable of expanding outwards. A local hero is someone who is emotionally and physically available and genuinely cares about the people within the immediate environment. This is quality time. The quality interactions spent with those around us will help perpetuate quality time those people will want to spend time with others within their social group.

Taking care of ourselves is our first duty for taking care of others. Self-sacrifice is honorable, but being able to respect ourselves allows for us to be a more effective people for others. Love is shown through action, and adds up through the everyday activities made possible by simply showing up and being present.

For further related reading, please check out: No Label – What’s Inside?