Do Something Small; Make a Big Difference

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Somebody needs you today!

Will you notice them?  

Do something small. Make a big difference.

There is a time for everything. Technological devices have so many benefits and provide us with so many opportunities that they are often unavoidable. Unfortunately, these devices have many subtle, negative effects, and we may hardly even recognize them.

Several years ago, a friend said that her life was literally saved, simply because a by passer at school noticed her stressed state and reached out. This story, along with other realizations I've had, drove me to write this piece to get people to unplug themselves from their devices more often, especially when being with people.

Why?

1. The former story illustrates how much a small thing can do. To a degree, we're all responsible to look out for others. But we should also do it because we want to. A lot of people do put on headphones to purposely cut out contact with the world. When we do this, we have essentially already set ourself to fail in our duties that day to love one another and think about others. Like I said, there is a time for everything, including listening to headphones. But I promise that the people you walk by every day are much more important than the music you are listening to every day on the way to school or work--and have probably already heard dozens of times anyways. Obviously, I also realize that many people listen to other audio, such as pod-casts, scriptures, etc.
2. Sometimes it's dangerous to be completely zoned into whatever we are doing on our devices. Not being able to hear what happens outside of our headphones has caused wrecks and other incidents (not to mention harming our ears if the music is too loud). I see lots of people riding bikes with headphones on, and many times lacking awareness and narrowly avoiding wrecks. Furthermore, they don't even wear a helmet. "Be wise, what more can I say?"
3. You could miss out on meeting important people. Obviously we are missing out on potential opportunities to enter into a relationship when we are oblivious to who and what is around us. And if we're married we can still speak with people that can help us in other ways, such as sharing knowledge about our career path, or inspiring us with a life story. Maybe you would benefit from sharing a life lesson with someone else.

Putting on headphones is a simple thing, but it can make a big difference. Will you do something small that is helpful or harmful? The decision is yours.

1. http://english.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2013-06-25/is-the-youth-alienating-from-the-world
2. Jacob 6:12, The Book of Mormon.