What are you going to do about it?
When I was a kid, I was part of a church youth organization called Royal Rangers. It was like boy scouts, just more bible talk. The men that lead our group were all larger than life to me. Mighty men that taught me how to tie a dozen or so knots, start a fire with a single match and survive a weekend in the freezing winter forest.
As I grew up, it turned out they were just regular dudes.
I’ve experienced this same pattern over and over in my life. Teachers, entrepreneurs and politicians who appeared to have some kind of magical power were actually just regular people.
This is both good news and bad news. The good news is there’s nothing special about all those people you looked up to and the bad news is there’s nothing special about all those people you looked up to. The only thing that really made them different was when someone asked them, “What are you going to do about it?” They had an answer.
So now, with 2020 in the rearview mirror, I’m going to turn that question to myself. I can think of many things I think I can improve. What about you?
You can’t start too small
If there’s something I wish someone had taught me a long time ago, it’s that you can’t start too small. If you want to make the world cleaner, first start with your room. Once you get it tidied up, clean your house, then your yard. Got an immaculate yard? How about you help an elderly neighbor? Then go through your neighborhood and clean up all the trash no one wants to claim. All of that will make a real, tangible difference. Do enough of those little things and before you know it, you’ve changed the world.
At the very least, it sure beats hoping on social media and hashtagging #Icare. Doing something is doing something. Move your body. Go outside. Make good things happen.
Doing Something Good for WV
Going back to my early days in Royal Rangers, I loved being outside, and I’ll find almost any excuse to go outside. I was lucky to be born in the right state. So when Mountaineer Media began their #DoSomethingGoodWV campaign, I took my boys out to clean up a stretch of Kanawha Boulevard. They had a blast! It was a great way to get outside, go for a walk, and do a small thing to help the community.
Now Mountaineer Media is looking for bloggers to help highlight what’s great about West Virginia. And I think that sounds like a great idea! So my boys and I are going to do some blogs on outdoor recreation. Not sure what that will be just yet, but I am sure it’s going to be fun, entertaining and help show off the hidden gems of West Virginia.
Maybe one day, other kids will see our videos and get excited about West Virginia. Maybe they’ll wonder what special magic we have in West Virginia. In this state, there might just be a little magic. So answering the question, “What are you going to do about it?” We’re going to show it off.
P.S. If you know of any hidden gems in West Virginia, please let me know by using our Contact Us page.
