"The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds." -Dalai Lama

If you ask any of my friends, they'll tell you I'm a tree hugger, hippie, flower child, whatever you want to call it, but if loving the world makes me that, then I'll gladly label myself as one. Sometimes having that kind of passion can hurt you in the world we live in today, unfortunately. It's easy to feel discouraged when you see people mindlessly toss a cigarette butt out of their window or broken glass bottles on the sidewalk. It's easy to say that you could never actually make a difference, or you don't have the means to do anything right now. You're fooling yourself, and I have been guilty of this too.

I found myself living so much in the things I hope to do one day that I forgot about what I could do today. Sometimes I sit on my laptop researching jobs in wildlife conservation and good graduate programs for my field, dreaming about the day where I actually get to wake up and do the things I love. I can do those things every day. You can turn off the lights when you leave the room and unplug electronics when they aren't in use. I can gather my friends to do a park cleanup, or even just bring a bag to pick up litter while I walk my dog. Little things that you do everyday may not seem like they could have that much of an impact, but maybe when someone sees you pick up a plastic bag tumbling in the wind, they'll do the same thing next time. You have the power to make change, not only tomorrow or three years from now, but today.

This kind of passion and drive should be put to good use, not put on the back burner. It can be hard when you're sitting around thinking all the big differences you could be making, if only you had the money, time, or education, but focus on the changes you can make right now. You have to start somewhere and baby steps are better than no steps at all. Don't let anyone kill your spirit, because you've got the one that's far too scarce in a world that needs so much love.