love is in the air

Some days we are tired, under-slept, busy, running late, thinking about a conflict in our lives or work stress, hungry even! Our moods change hourly & daily, and we are all guilty of sometimes letting our personal experience effect those around us. When we’re in a bad mood we don’t smile at the bus driver or say thank you when we order a coffee, we snap on a phone call, unnecessarily beep the horn in traffic, we send a mean email or write a judgmental comment online. In many of these moments, there is an opportunity to think past our own immediate life and think about others.

Giving back is something we can do in a million different ways. We can donate to charity, volunteer or perhaps working in your chosen industry means you are in service to others. We can also give back in small informal ways that make us and those around us feel better:

◦ When did you last look in on your neighbour? Do you even know who lives next door?

◦ Can you check in on a family member who is having a hard time?

◦ Do you have time to walk a dog in your street who gets left at home all day?

◦ Do you have some extra money to buy bird seed to leave out for birds in the Australian drought?

◦ Can you put some coins in the charity tin at a supermarket checkout?

◦ Can you help someone carry their groceries if they look like they are struggling?

◦ Can you buy a plant and plant it in the ground in your garden?

◦ Could you pick up just one piece of rubbish a day from the street?

Thinking about our world, our planet, and all those who share it with us – improves our quality of life and those around us. It’s a new decade and time for us all to connect and create communities we are proud of. It’s up to all of us, even when we’re having a bad day, to try and smile at life – even when it’s giving us lemons!

Back to journal

explore more