Most of us have seen the ripples of a stone dropped in a pond. Like the stone, our actions and thoughts create subtle and profound ripples that extend far beyond our initial intent.
Each of us has the capacity to change the world in small and great ways — for better or worse. By recognizing our potential to influence, we can consciously choose to make positive contributions and be catalysts for significant transformations.
Volunteering and gratitude make big ripples that benefit our community and our personal lives.
Volunteers help community organizations fulfill their mission. And, volunteering improves our physical and mental health, and our sense of community. Nonprofits: STATS Indiana lists over 800 nonprofit organizations in Johnson County. The League of Women Voters of Johnson County and many other county organizations have numerous volunteer opportunities for people who want to share their talents and skills.
Gratitude is a fundamental pillar of healthy living. Feeling thankful and expressing gratitude enhances our well-being and performance because it can improve our sleep, our mood, and our immunity.
Acts of kindness are one way we express gratitude. Kindness reduces stress and builds healthy relationships. Healthy relationships, at work and in our community, enrich the well-being and functioning of our families.
We can express kindness in many ways. Smile at someone to acknowledge their presence. Say thank you to people who contribute to our community life — service providers, local businesses, school personnel and government officials. Give everyone an opportunity to express their perspectives. When we listen, we show respect and enrich our pool of options to resolve challenges.
Gratitude creates ripples because it can motivate us to make small changes that help remedy a problem. For example, we are learning that each of us can reduce waste in a few simple ways. We can carry a travel mug for our take-out beverages, shop locally, pack our purchases in reusable shopping bags instead of store-provided plastic bags, turn off the light when we leave a room, or turn off the water while brushing our teeth.
When we generously and frequently feel and express gratitude, we focus on abundance. We recognize the multitude of available resources and assets that can be combined to solve problems and serve our community.
The 2023 Municipal Election is an excellent opportunity to express gratitude for the efforts of our municipal leaders to spend our tax dollars wisely and make effective decisions about local ordinances, law enforcement, fire and police protection, public health, property taxes, land use, housing, education, zoning regulations, transportation, infrastructure, maintenance, parks and recreation, libraries, and more. Thank you for accepting the responsibility and the power to affect the quality of life in our cities and towns.
All voters can express gratitude by saying thank you to the candidates and by voting.
League of Women Voters of Johnson County member Mary Kooi wrote this column. The League’s mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. All League-sponsored work is strictly nonpartisan. For more information visit lwvjcin.org. Send comments to [email protected].
