Giving Back

Your little part, to change the world.

In a world full of materialism & improving your rep or your social media Cred. We can get a little caught up by what it actually means to ''give back'' or help the ''greater good.''

It's a cloudy area, but can easily be defined as ''anything at which you are disregarding your benefit or humbling yourself in order to benefit Someone's life.''

This could simply mean:

- buying breakfast for a homeless person

- giving your spare change to the person who needs that extra $1 to get home, on the train

- letting your mate, who is in between jobs sleep on your couch for the time-being.

- or simply having a chat, to that lonely person you see every day at the bus stop.

It doesn't have to be a grand-life-changing gesture. It's the little things.

Doing what you can, to better the world, with what you got, exactly where you are, right now.

I've been blessed growing up, to develop a passion for social justice. This lead me to be a part of my high school's 'St Vincent De Paul' group.

This involved brainstorming ideas to help the people less fortunate, homeless or suffering, in the local community.

We would do things simply as visit retirement homes, a food-drive every Christmas to local shelters as well as a blanket drive, every winter to support those suffering in the cold, without a home. Or we simply prayed - for families and individuals in our local community who were suffering.

These little things, made a difference.

There's countless ways you can help improve someone's life.

More recently, I was given an incredible opportunity to visit some Cambodia's most destitute communities, this November.

I'll be travelled with 15 other students, from my university 'ACPE,' to Phnom Penh for 23 days.

While we could not offer some ''immediate life changing program'' because that would not be ongoing, or stable. It would be beneficial for a short period of time, but it is not a 'lifestyle change.'

We instead made an impact to this communities lifestyle, for their ongoing benefit.

It was once said that sport - could be the key to world peace. Wouldn't that be magical?

However, I do agree, somewhat that sport does have an incredible Power for bringing people together.

And enormous physical, Mental and spiritual benefits, especially for a developing child.

ACPE along with the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF) we aimed to help empower the lives of these children living in extreme poverty by providing them with sports programs and fundamental life skills and teaching.

I had the opportunity to work at CCF - which is a centre for life changing education, nourishment & healing for these struggling kids.

I was able to utilize my sporting knowledge and passion for social justice by providing these children with a variety of sports programs:

- including ball skills, team sports, learn-to-swim program, fundamentals of dance and yoga and well as teaching basic life skills these children are not exposed to.

By the small gesture of sport, as a way of exercise, expressing yourself and improving overall health - we aim to give these children a better foundation for their future.

Although this is one of the bigger gestures, I have ever embarked on - there is certainly more ways you can do your part to help these kids too, without leaving your lounge room. If you'd like to find out more, please check out: www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/

I can safely say, still to this day. Those Children. This trip. The life lessons. I will cherish forever.

If you have the capacity friends, and the heart to do so. I encourage you to Volunteer!

With eyes wide open and arms..ready to hug.

Now, you mightn't be in a position to physically go out into the world and experiencing something like this first-hand, for various personal reasons or obstacles.

But you are still very able to go on a trip of your own, a pilgrimage, a mission to better yourself or someone's world.

You can do your part, wherever ever you are, with what you've got right now.

Because it's all the little parts, put together, that can help change the world.

A massive thank you for your support & interest on this important journey.

Until next time's thoughts...

Keep Dreaming & Believing,

Xx Lani