DAY 86 – FORM SMALL GROUPS TO UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

My mother had a best friend since they both were in the fifth grade. While I do not recall both families interacting that often when I was a kid, I do know that they talked on the phone or met quite often since we lived two blocks from each other.

Human beings usually have no more than one or two best friends in which they can confide in. Just like my mother and her best friend, most of the time our best friends have many similar beliefs and interests. When needing someone to talk to about a problem they are having, we get from our best friends insights and advice that are often very similar to one’s own way of analyzing and dealing with life. What we need is alternative ways of living our life and handling our difficulties that may have more relevance and benefits than sticking to our usual ways of thinking and behaving.

Becoming part of a small group of five to ten people who have various personalities, beliefs and interests along with having a common goal to discover better ways of living their lives will give each member the ability to be heard and understood. All members of the group can feel free enough to share what is personally meaningful and when difficulties arise for any participant, they have a diversity of opinions and ideas at one another’s disposal that they might not normally have considered. Opening up a world of beneficial possibilities that expands the horizons for each member can be life altering.

Another facet of being part of a small group is that each person may have a specific community issue that they find of utmost importance. By talking about it within their group they can collectively do research and find how people in other communities have successfully dealt with that issue. They can then take what they consider to be the best ideas and insights that they have uncovered, along with volunteering their time, and assist those individuals and groups who are trying to do good for their fellow community members. The more small groups within a community devoted to helping others the greater the possibility that the lives of everyone is changed for the better.

I now realize that being part of a small group can enable each person to acquire more knowledge about life along with helping one another to deal with personal issues. In addition, members of a small group can be a force for good that effectively contributes their time and energy that makes a real difference in the lives of their fellow neighbors.