“Nothing will change if nothing changes”

-Unknown

We know the world needs our help, but it can be hard to know where to start. Start here. Some of the items on the list below are easy and some are a bit harder. Some of the items will take you 30 seconds to complete and others will require a little more time. Most of these are free of expense, but some are not. Use this list if you’re having a hard time channeling your concern over all the tragedies and conflicts in the world into tangible action. It’s our work and NOT simply our compassionate thoughts that change the world. Start small, but start today.

100 Ways to Love on the World

1. Send encouragement to someone caring for an aging parent.
2. Donate coats and blankets you won’t use often.
3. Get to know someone on a deeper level. Who did they love? What did they lose? What matters most to them?
4. Enrich a livelihood. Donate to fund a microloan to help people in other parts of the world increase their earning potential.
5. Marvel in the power of human expression. Buy tickets to music, dance and other live performances.
6. Make an effort to use both sides of your paper.
7. Laugh long and hard. Laugh loud enough for others to hear you.
8. Plant something and watch it grow.
9. Buy art that moves you and says things words can’t.
10. Donate batteries to keep lifesaving appliances and smoke detectors working.
11. Shop kindly. Choose to shop from companies that donate a portion of their proceeds to charity.
12. Say no. Knowing you can set limits will give you the confidence to serve more.
13. Join a bone marrow registry.
14. Raise your awareness of the employee working conditions at the companies you support.
15. Help them live the dream and share their art. Dine at chef-owned restaurants.
16. Tip generously.
17. Advocate for a minimum living wage in your community.
18. Put a Band-Aid in your wallet to give away when needed.
19. Text someone a specific compliment. (e.g. “I admire how much patience you have with me.”)
20. Learn the warning signs of suicide and take them seriously.
21. Buy local produce.
22. Hear gossip and refuse to spread it.
23. Adopt your next furry family member at a rescue or shelter.
24. Plant a passion for service in a child’s heart.
25. Keep the craft growing. Support new and independent artists.
26. Choose books that broaden your view of the world.
27. Shovel your neighbor’s walkway.
28. Donate your old computer to a school.
29. Offer your home repair skills to the elderly, ill or a military family.
30. Learn CPR.
31. Register to be an organ donor.
32. Be a designated driver.
33. Choose to shop at small businesses more often.
34. Be bold enough to ask for help. Let someone else experience the gift of giving.
35. Make a small change to conserve energy such as not pre-heating your oven or opening it while food cooks.
36. Be a connector. Introduce two people with mutual interests or career pursuits.
37. Multiply the impact of your donations by joining a giving circle.
38. Share a meal with someone you love.
39. Brighten a teacher’s day. Send in an unsolicited treat or thank you.
40. Treat your spouse to an unexpected display of passion.
41. Do online research about the distinction between charity and philanthropy.
42. Encourage someone to share their faith with you in a place where it is normally kept quiet (work, school, etc).
43. Grant someone the freedom to parent differently than you without judgment.
44. Bring a neighbor an unexpected gift.
45. Register to vote or correct your voting information.
46. Offer an elderly pet owner peace of mind by suggesting you care for their beloved pet whenever they are unable.
47. Choose to share something shameful or painful in your past if it will help another feel less alone.
48. Rally around an acquaintance going through a difficult time. Sometimes it’s the most unexpected acts of love that touch us the most.
49. Act! Move beyond sympathetic thoughts. Vow to do one small thing (donate, advocate, etc.) to address a world problem that seems hopeless.
50. Give someone the freedom to live an unconventional life and still be accepted.
51. Donate school supplies.
52. Offer support to a grieving soul long after the funeral.
53. Share a piece of wisdom that only comes with age.
54. Make a call and check on an elderly family member.
55. Create a disaster plan for your family.
56. Give someone a gift you made yourself.
57. Take a walk with a loved one. It serves the body and soul.
58. Drive cautiously and without distractions.
59. Admit you’re biased. We all are. Facing that we have biases (racial, class, religion, etc) helps us to better address our issues and to serve more sincerely.
60. Loan someone a book you love.
61. Don’t let it sit in a drawer. Give your old cell phone and chargers away or donate them to a charity.
62. Treat a pet with kindness and respect.
63. Make a small change to conserve water such as not prewashing your dishes before using the dishwasher.
64. Donate suitcases to foster children.
65. Share public service information (traffic detours, power outages, flood warnings etc.) via social media.
66. Turn off and unplug electronics you aren’t using.
67. Pick up trash that wasn’t properly discarded.
68. Give someone more credit than they deserve.
69. Believe someone’s dream is possible. And tell them. They need the support.
70. Fight indifference and don’t look away. Let yourself feel sadness when you see a homeless person.
71. Tell someone you forgive them. And mean it.
72. Contact an elected official via social media to quickly advocate for a global or domestic cause you believe in.
73. Call someone you usually text and tell them you just wanted to hear their voice.
74. Pick up an extra item or two from the grocery store to donate to your local food bank.
75. Make a small online donation to a global, domestic or community nonprofit with a mission you believe in.
76. Practice empathy. Take a few minutes and imagine the struggles of someone you know.
77. Listen carefully. People yearn to be heard and understood.
78. Thank a healthcare provider for their service.
79. Tell someone a joke.
80. Save someone from a work conversation they aren’t enjoying. “I hate to interrupt, but can I borrow you for two minutes.”
81. Actually take your reusable bags into the store with you.
82. Actually take your reusable cup into Starbucks with you.
83. Pray for someone.
84. Teach someone something. Anything.
85. Get or stay committed to a recycling program
86. Give someone you love your undivided attention.
87. Hold a door open and wait while multiple people pass through.
88. Take time to write a supportive comment to someone on Facebook.
89. Hug someone.
90. Share any online article that raises awareness of a service need.
91. Let that busy person behind you go ahead of you in line.
92. Leave change in a candy machine.
93. Pay the toll for the person behind you.
94. Thank a solider for their service.
95. Discuss with a younger relative a piece of your family history.
96. Cheer loudly for someone else’s kid.
97. Give away an extra umbrella on a rainy day.
98. Keep your brain sharp and body strong. Serve on!
99. Share this post and spread the love around.
100. If you love them, tell them.

What are some others?