Part 2 - How to Change the World

Matthew Kelly offers that the next step toward fixing the world will come from individuals learning to be authentically human again. This was cause for pause when I read it: what does being authentically human have to do with generosity? I had to enlist the help of mom to puzzle this one out.

A smile can be the best gift you give someone. Image Credit: Richard Saunders

What kind of actions involve being authentically human?

“It is the very best of our humanity that the world desperately needs now—and generosity brings out the best in people" (pg. 4).

What is the best of humanity? Robots walk, talk, communicate, build things, and even “think” in certain ways (Link), so it isn’t those things. You know what robots can’t do? Instinctively sense opportunities for generosity.

Have you ever walked past someone, and you just get the feeling that they could really use a pat on the back or a hand with something? How about a smile? As I mentioned in my first article, we don’t need wealth to be generous, and oftentimes it is these small acts of kindness that make a bigger difference to people than if we handed them a $5 or $10 bill.

Being generous in this way is quite tricky, however. These instances come and go so quickly! To make a difference we must learn to be both aware of our surroundings, and instant with smiles or offers of help. That person who looks anxious in the grocery store? You will probably never see them again. You have a split second to be generous before the moment is gone.

I am not suggesting that we do our grocery shopping visually interrogating people’s moods (not only would this be creepy, but you would never get done shopping!), but being aware that there are always people around who can use a smile changes our attitudes.

Have you ever passed up one of those opportunities? I always kick myself afterwards and can’t help but hear Johnny Depp’s (Jack Sparrow’s) voice chide me for not taking the opportunity.

Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl. Image credits: https://pin.it/7jFvbkS

Do you have a favorite story of a time when small act of kindness like this had surprising results? Comment below!

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Kelly, M. (2021). The Generosity Habit. Blue Sparrow.

Machine Learning: What it is and why it matters. (n.d.). https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/analytics/machine-learning.html

Meme Credit: https://pin.it/7jFvbkS

*This post is not affiliated with or endorsed by Disney, creator of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Images belong to them.