This is one of those topic that sometimes makes my head hurt because it cannot quickly delve into the realm of stupidity. But I think that it is an important one and I am curious about it. So here are a couple of guidelines.
Let’s spend some time talking about simple ways that we can improve the world around us. Do you have simple/easy suggestions for things that we can do now to make an immediate impact?
Try to avoid politicizing this. At this particular moment I am not interested in hearing why you think politician ABC created a mess. Focus on solutions.
It is ok to offer big ideas, but try to avoid the easy ones like “End world hunger.” That is obvious. What is less obvious? What do most people miss? What should we start doing today to make the world a better place?
What do you think? Let us know.
Datingmaster,
Did you go Brokeback on me. Why am I in your fantasy? More to the point, I visited 237 blogs today and you posted the same comment on 212 of them. You are very busy. 😉
AT,
It might be a start.
Robbie,
Rid the world of stupid people- there is a joke and an elitist comment in there but I am too tired to find it now. Should I add that I hang out in the left lane, more importantly why can’t we build highways that have more lanes. Why limit it to two.
Regina,
The old smile trick. You are right, it does seem to work.
Shifra,
It is amazing to me how much a compliment does for people.
CM,
Left turns, oh yes I hear you. In NJ they have this cockamamie jughandle program that makes it impossible to make a proper left hand turn.
Richmond,
Courtesy seems to be a dying art.
Ann,
Your grandmother had solid advice.
My dad’s mother took us camping when we were kids. One of the rules she burned into our very consciousness was “Always leave the campsite better than you found it.” This usually involved cleaning it really well and leaving some stacked firewood for the next person.
It’s a good rule to live by. I try to pick up litter in the street or woods when I can. My radical idea is that if everyone picked up one piece of litter, I bet the whole place would be clean in no time. It doesn’t matter that you’re not the one who put it there – we should have shared responsibiity for everything. You ARE a bit responsible for it if you have the ability to change it and decide not to change it.
I would like to see people try to be more polite. I mean really, how hard is it just to choose to say please and thank you and practice basic human politeness?
I would have to ditto RCJ and Shifra…it’s true, you can change someone’s entire day with a smile or compliment, and since all we really have is each day, why not make it better?
Also, if people making left turns would pull out into the intersection, so others behind could also turn…life would be grand!
Oh, and ending world hunger would be nice too.
Be generous with compliments:
With your co-workers, your spouse, your kids, even strangers…
Why hold back if you are thinking something positive?
Everyone needs positive reinforcement and appreciating good qualities in others (and telling them about it) is the perfect foil to becoming jealous and petty.
Crack a smile every once in a while- to people you don’t know. When you’re walking down the street or paying at the register or out to dinner, smile… you might make someone’s day, and then they will pass the smile on. Corny, I know- but it works…
If all people knew that the left lane is the passing lane, and they shouldn’t be hanging out there, and if someone flashes their brights it means they need to move, rather than slow to a crawl – the world would be a much better place. And less full of stupid people.
We can start by banning datingmaster from commenting on other blogs.
Hi jackshack
just to say you are mentioned in my latest barbecue fantasy so come over if you can handle the heat and if you like your steaks well-done