As you get older you tend to see the darkness of the world. You lose the “magic” of being a child and it’s hard to always see the positive in the world. I’m currently on a kick of listening to the song “Difference Maker” by Need To Breathe, so I decided to provide a list of things you can do to positively impact your community and those around you.

Mentor a child

This is so very important to mesince I want to be a pediatric nurse and I’ve worked as a Georgia 4-H camp counselor for five summers. These children ARE the future of the world. They will live the way that they are raised and by the way they are taught. Teach them to love one another, love the place we live and be thankful.

Talk and listen to someone

Sometimes all you need after a long stressful day is for someone to just listen. Be that listening ear for someone and be genuine when asking someone how he or she is doing. Actually take the time to stop and listen to their response.

Play with animals

This will not only help you but also help your local animal shelter. Take time to volunteer at your shelter, offer to walk the dogs, volunteer at an adoption day and just give some loving to those sweet animals.

Make baked goods and give them to friends and family

Everyone loves a good gooey homemade chocolate chip cookie. Bake some cookies and hand them out with an encouraging quote to make someone’s day.

Tell someone "thank you"

This is such a simple thing to do. Call that old high school teacher that you helped you so much, call your pastor, call your parents, call your best friend and just them thank you for all they’ve done. You can even just tell someone thank you for them just being them.

Visit the elderly

By visiting the elderly, you can learn so much about the history of our country. Go visit the local nursing home and do some crafts, dance or just hang out and talk. I’m sure the elderly would love a guest from time to time and it would be a change of scenery for you as well.

Call or write your local, state or federal politicians

K-Love encouraged its listeners to do this last month. The idea is great because the politicians are always criticized for making the “wrong” decision or a “bad” decision but are almost never praised. Can you imagine the pressure that comes from a job where its almost always negative? Give them a call and just tell them that you are thankful for their service and give them your support even if you don’t agree with every decision they make.

Clean up

Picking up litter around your community is great way to positively impact it as well as positively impact your health. This way it helps make your community prettier and something you can be proud to show off when visitors or tourists come to town. You could also offer to do some yard work for a family that may not be able to afford it or an elderly neighbor that can’t do it physically.

Learn something new

This helps keep the community well rounded and informed. Having an informed community can help resolve conflict and lead to more conversations. Conversations lead to camaraderie and change that’s beneficial to everyone.

Encourage. Lead. Inspire.

This was my mantra that I gave to my counselors this summer. Encourage everyone around you, be a leader that you’d want to follow and inspire those around you to be positive and positively impact their community. These are three simple words that can be applied to any part of life.

As tempers flare over the current presidential election race, the world is at odds with one another and Americans are turning on one another, its time to revert back to positive thought and conversations. We should be able to disagree politely, have constructive conversation and make the place a better place to live not only for ourselves but also for future generations to come. If you have suggestions for other ways to positively impact your community please feel free to share them in the comment section below. Now go out into the world and be difference makers.