You Come Up With #10

(This is an old post from my MySpace days, a little over two years ago.)

I was going to come here to have a whinge about the state of the world, and how it's got me down. I was despairing the hopelessness, and I realized not only that I shouldn't share the misery, but that perhaps other people feeling the same way could use a bit of encouragement, and a way not to feel quite so helpless. So here it is. Nine ways you can (begin to) save the world:
1. Say a prayer. For somebody, anybody, everybody.
2. If you have it, give that guy with the cardboard sign a couple bucks. Let yourself off the hook of worrying whether he really needs it, or whether he'll spend it on booze. Just give it to him.
3. Forgive somebody. You don't have to say it to them, and they don't have to apologize. In your heart, forgive them.
4. Forgive yourself. Life is hard. Do your best and then, as Anne Lamott put it, be militantly on your own side.
5. Learn to do something. Go to the library and get a book on how to make a dress, or grow a plant, or draw a dog, or dance a waltz.
6. Compliment somebody. A friend or a stranger. When something in you tells you not to say that nice thing you're thinking, ignore that something and say it anyway.
7. Become more earth-friendly. I realize at this point, the mere mention of "going green" makes most of us want to light styrofoam on fire in the front yard, but hear me out. It's FUN. Instead of buying that roll of paper towels, take your money straight to the thrift store and gitcha some real, live, cloth napkins. Or a big tablecloth to make cloth napkins out of. Think that's kidstuff, not radical enough for you? Ready to go full tilt? Google "family cloth." I dare you.
8. Smile at people. Smile at everybody--scary people, mean people, teeny people, snooty people, grumpy people. So cheesy. Too bad, do it anyway.
9. Get up offa that thing, and dance til you feel better. Not just a good song. Really solid advice.
As Garrison Keillor says, be well, do good work, and keep in touch.