Tag Archive for 'saving the world'

I often think of how I’ve spent my life, be it on the basis of a day, a week, a year, or all 17 revolutions around the sun that I’ve been breathing.

For 13 years, I did NOT pay attention to the world. I honestly didn’t. I was sort of just an existence, and I didn’t exactly care because I wasn’t paying attention. Then, when I DID start noticing life, I (for whatever reason) hated it. 100% loathed it. I don’t even know why! I reflected on it a lot and can’t come up with a logical reason on why I would hate the life I had. I still continue to blame it on rampant hormones.

When I turned 15, the light began surfacing. I stopped hating and started loving, almost overnight.  With each passing day, I started to realize how things TRULY were, first in my life, then in everyone else’s.

I am now 17 years old, and in love with literally every single aspect of life. Including the awful side.

Well…Okay, maybe I’m not in love with the murder and poverty per se`. But! I do greatly enjoy and bask in gratitude over the fact that I get to help change those things! I’m only bummed ever so slightly that I didn’t start earlier.

So, my point in this all is to first ask this: Are you capable of saving the world?

The answer is yes, whether you like it or not.

Now, I’m going to ask this: What are you going to do to prove yourself and save the world?

Realize that you are something capable of changing things. You, as long as you can breathe, and as long as your heart is beating, have an infinite resource of strength and ability in you that can be used to turn the world upside down, inside out, however way you like.

This is a beautiful thing. Nobody, absolutely no one, is a lump on the floor without a purpose, despite that unfortunately popular belief.

You can change the world. How are you going to?

Will you save that poor flipped over insect who can’t quite roll itself over and give him a shot to be a great part of his colony? Will you pick up that empty bottle that didn’t make it in the trash bin? Will you maybe put it in a recycling bin instead? Will you spread the word about a purpose and involve yourself in it full-time? Will you volunteer to help the homeless? Will you become a member of the government?

You have infinite choices on how you want to execute this, but the important thing is that something is started.

My next and final question is this: What HAVE you done to save the world so far?

Even the littlest things. You’ve done something. I know far too many people who tell me that they’re a nobody and have done nothing their whole life. How is that even possible, honestly?

If you’ve ever said anything nice about anybody ever, you’ve saved the world. If you’ve ever bought or had your parents buy something for you, you’ve saved the world by helping out that store. If you’ve ever talked to anybody, you’ve saved the world. Everybody is a part of the world; by helping them, you’re helping the world.

Everything anybody does matters in some way shape or form. Isn’t that just the bee’s knees? And the ability can be constantly amplified and improved on.

I want everybody to do something right now. Think about everything they’ve done and everything they want to do. Everything positive and negative, everything that has had/will have an effect on somebody.

For all the positives, promise yourself to do it more and do it better.

For all the negatives, ask yourself if it was or if it will be worth it. Realize it won’t be. Promise yourself to never do it again and prevent others from doing it. Maybe even apologize for some of those things.

I’m going to make a point to ask myself every single day, “Am I a bad enough dudette to save the world? How can I?” And form it accordingly. Maybe I’ll come up with a weekly or monthly goal to reach and say “I saved a little part of the world. Go me!”

This month, I think I’ll do something about the trash I constantly see scattered around my neighborhood, school, block, etc. It’s something that’s bothered me since I was little and went for car rides. I’d look out the window and just be so bothered by the junk I saw everywhere. Especially when it was something like a shoe or a shirt or something useful.

I actually did this before, where I’d take a trash bag and go down my block or to the park and pick up all the garbage everywhere. I got quite a lot of stares from people who probably assumed I was a delinquent doing community service, but who cares? I was doing my community and my environment a service, just…Not because I had to.

I wasn’t doing it to get attention or to build up some karmic income, either. I was doing it to do it. And honestly, it felt INCREDIBLE afterwards! It was so rewarding walking to school the next day and not seeing trash to the sides or in front of me, especially knowing I was the one who made this walk for myself and for many others aesthetically more pleasant. I did that! Woo! I have the power! And it didn’t even take much effort! Maybe this time I’ll bring home what I collect and see if any of its recyclable.

Saving the world can be rewarding for the self as well as the rest of humanity. After all, you’re a part of the world; by saving it, are you not saving yourself? Improving yourself?

Make a point to call yourself a superhero every day. Turn yourself into one, become that which you really are.

Do it now, actually. Say “I am a superhero.” Doesn’t that feel radical?

Good! Now go save the world. I’ll be joining you!

-XITVII

For more Lyndsey-magic, check out her blog eleventseven.