How Can I Make A Difference?

by Grace Houston, Lambda Tau (U of Louisiana Monroe), International Vice President

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

I ran across this statement from Jane Goodall several months ago which caused me to examine how I can make a difference. So, let’s look at some of the ways that our impact can be a positive one.

1. Smile
   • Do we smile when meeting someone, whether we are well acquainted with them or not? 
   • A smile costs little to the giver but can be invaluable to the receiver (and it only takes fourteen facial muscles to smile).

1. Volunteer
   • Are we helpful and concerned about sisters in our chapter, others we meet on campus or in the course of making any purchases?
   • Do we give more than is expected? Are we reliable? 
2. Accountability
   • Do we take ownership for our actions? Do we accept responsibility? Do we tell the truth? 
3. Listen
   • Do we really listen to the person with whom we are conversing? Advice often isn’t needed, but empathy is. 
4. Say please and thank you
   • Sincere expressions of gratitude are important ways to demonstrate our appreciation for kindnesses shown to us.
   • Treat family like friends and friends like family. Actions speak louder than words. 
5. Carefully choose our words and monitor our behavior
   • Our words tell a lot about us. The words we use can lift or lower someone’s mood, as well as our own.
   • When out with friends, does our behavior cause embarrassment to them and us? Can we be counted on to ensure that the outing is pleasant for all? Do we dress appropriately for the outing or is our clothing suggestive of embarrassing behavior? 
6. Choose to love
   • Our organization was founded on the love shared by Stella, Helen, Jessie and Bess. Love that was so precious to them that they founded their own organization as they did not wish to entrust it to any superficialities that might be practiced elsewhere. Each of them chose to love each other and all the members who came after them. Do we emulate that behavior?
   • Liking is an emotional response but loving is a choice we make. Choose to love. 
7. Be a friend
   • It’s not always easy to be a friend, but if we are a friend, we answer the call and show that we care.

In closing, I came across the following, which I think sums up all of the above in a simple statement.

“To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect.  You just have to care.” – Mandy Hale