Small Gestures Can Have a Far-Reaching Impact

As a pulse of patriotism swept across the United States after September 11, many resolved to change the world through great and noble deeds. Some have kept that promise and made a major shift in the way they live. In some cases they have changed their occupation so they could serve the poor and needy. But even though the war on terrorism drags on, the fervor of patriotism, and the resolution to change one's life, has, as the Los Angeles Times noted on May 25, 2002, "retreated, pushed back by time and healing and the need to move forward with everyday life."

Listen to any news report, however, and it's clear that around the world there is a high potential for man-made disasters and the situation will not improve without wise intervention. That is why this section encourages you to make a significant difference in the world. But we aren't particularly interested in having you make a complete overhaul of your life. Rather, we believe you can make a great difference by doing any of a thousand small, simple things with love.

If you doubt the impact of seemingly inconsequential acts, notice what happened at a zoo where one trash can was disguised as a lion—with a voice-activating system that had the lion growl "Thank you" when a child threw in a bit of trash. Not only was the area next to the trash can spotless, but you couldn't find a scrap of paper or candy wrapper in the whole zoo!

So in these pages you'll find articles with ideas that can have a ripple effect on the world at large, although you may never know what the end result of your actions will be. Whether offering relatively small gestures of affection and friendship, or creating "Cards That Cheer and Comfort," or taking the time to create a life review video for future generations, there are many ways that your efforts can expand far beyond what you would expect the results of your actions to be.

Most of all, we invite you to share what you know that can make a difference for others, for everyone knows something that can make someone else's life better. Of course, what you know may not seem particularly significant because you may do it without effort. But what you know will, in all likelihood, be something that at least some of us would not have thought of. As Gregory Bateson, the expert on systems and environment, once said, "Information is the difference that makes a difference." So you see, if you tell me something I didn't know and I make that a part of my world, you have made a difference in my life!