As a little girl, I looked forward to growing up. I felt that the world was full of possibilities—that it was a place in which I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. I felt that the older I got, the more grounded I would become, and the safer I would feel.
Boy, was I a naïve little girl.
Now, as a grown adult, I turn on the news and see how awful the world is. I see that there was another mass shooting, another car running over innocent civilians, another horrible event that ISIS is taking responsibility for, another political debate or protest that turned violent, another natural disaster leaving dozens killed and hundreds in a panic.
Growing up, I thought that world peace would become a reality. I did not understand why there was something called “war,” and I did not understand why it allowed the killing of others to become acceptable. I wanted peace and tranquility.
Now, I realize that war is a necessary evil. As long as there is evil in the world, there will be war in the world.
Growing up, I believed homelessness would not exist for long. I did not understand why people had to live on the streets, when there are so many jobs and opportunities for people. I wanted to help them.
Now, I realize that in many cases homeless individuals do not have any other option. They are suffering from mental diseases or drug addictions, and they do not have the means to get a job and get their lives back on track.
The older I get the more I realize how scary and cruel the world truly is. Maybe it’s because social and mainstream media have made me more aware of what is happening in the world, or maybe the world is actually becoming a more terrifying place to exist. Either way, it is not at all what I imagined it would be, but that doesn’t mean that it has to stay this way.
Sure there are things going on in the world that we have no control over, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t try to make it a better place. We all have unique sets of skills and abilities that will allow us to make the world a better place. Believe it or not, we all have the power to change the world.
Do you have extra time on your hands on Saturday mornings? Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Help those people feel loved and cared for.
Do you have an extra dollar or two lying around? Send it over to a hurricane relief fund—the people living in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Maria need it more than your couch cushions.
Do you feel that political policies need to change to make the world a safer place? By all means, inform others. Share your knowledge. Reach out to your local representatives and tell them how you feel.
You are a living, breathing resident of this Earth, and if you feel like things need to change, then you have the power to make that change happen. Find others that believe in the same things you do, and rally them together to make this world a better place to live. God knows we need it.
