Be the change

Mandela Day was celebrated far and wide.

So many charities and individuals benefited on the day and it warms my heart to see and read about the many people who were helped. Unfortunately there are many charities and people who were not so lucky this year.

Although Madiba’s legacy lives on forever, why is it that businesses and individuals celebrate it only one day a year?

Why do we not help others every day of the year? I do not mean exhausting your budget to the verge of bankruptcy just to make a difference, I mean by being friendly to your neighbours, spend time with people (or animals), listen to them when they speak, visit them in person (not by Skype call or video call) and put your cellphone away as to not be distracted by social media when you are in the company of others.

We have become detached from each other, even from family members because, and this is just my humble opinion, of technology.

So, here is my request to every reader: try to make every day a Madiba Day. It feels so good to give and the more you give, the more blessed you will be, don’t you think?

Get to know your neighbours, even if it is a quick chat across the fence. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Make friends with strangers – you never know how important that initial acknowledgement might be to someone. We all know the story about a boy who walked on the beach and started throwing washed-up sea stars back into the ocean. A man asked him why he was doing it because it might be too late for most of them. The boy answered that his actions might mean the world to just one sea star.

Until next week, take care of one another.

Ciao