How to Matter

1. Take up a cause. Find something close to your heart and get involved. Do something more than just send money. Money is good but time is precious. Get to know people who also believe in that cause. Form relationships and brainstorm on how to make things better. It doesn't matter if you don't think you can make an impact - you can and you don't know it. You raise awareness just by your actions. Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

2. Be a good friend/mother/brother/sibling etc. Take the time to really listen to a family member or friend. Find out what is going on in their life. Don't be thinking of the thing you are going to complain about when they get done with their sentence. Actively listen to what they are saying. They will notice and you will have helped someone in a small way.

3. Write a letter to someone. We don't get enough letters these days. Write to an older person or someone you haven't connected with in a long time. Tell them one thing you appreciate about them and their friendship or share an old memory.

4. Volunteer one time a week. Be a Big Brother/Big Sister, visit a rest home once a week, help out at a food bank. You will be amazed at the benefit you receive for the small amount of time it takes.

5. Donate money. Make a commitment to a yearly amount and stick to it.

6. Be a good citizen. Get involved in politics and contribute. Even it if is just to your community government. At the very least vote!

7. Be a good steward of the Earth. Contribute to a charity. Volunteer to help with a project at a National Park - they have a variety of work days. Recycle.

The Truth is we all matter. We are all important to someone. You are important. But I think we have a basic need to feel like we matter. We need to know.

If you volunteer your time, if you really listen to someone who needs to be heard, if you make a commitment to something larger than yourself, you will have a rich life and you will know you matter.

Imagine if all the people of the world spent just one hour a week helping someone less fortunate than themselves. Where would we be?

Gandhi said "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Do something now. Do not wait.