How To Make A Difference In The World

Just graduated from college, I asked a most enlightened friend of mine, Norman, who looked humble from heads to toes, but a yogi responsible for bringing a branch of yoga teaching from India to the US. His work was to untie "knots" in people.

" Norman. I want to change the world for the better. I want to make a difference. Where should I start? The United Nations, the Peace Corp, the Red Cross, the Sierra Club, or...?"

Norman, teared up but with a smile, unbeknown to me why till this day, answered "Start from your neighbor". Very surprised by his response, thinking how could he be right without all the resources amassed by much larger organizations I mentioned, how could I make significant impact??

So I challenged him, "Why? These organizations are much more famous and powerful." He answered with a wink of childishness in his eyes, "Because too much Egos in these organizations." I became silent by the profoundness of his understanding. His answer changed my life.

Today, still, I am a steadfast community advocate. I believe wholeheartedly, sustainable transformation has to come from stakeholders buy-ins from community members. Politicians come and go, so as their regimes. But what gives life to our communities, our neighbors, will stay and continue to drive life-long changes to each person's life. No government will be truly successful without support from grass-root communities, the salt of our earth.

So I urge you, start with the light within, reach out to your neighbors, transform the world-

One Heart at a time

One Step at a time

One Day at a time

Together We Are Stronger (quote credit to Yemi Odubote)