Okay, so this article is going to be about positivity and making a change, but I want to say one thing before I start.
I get it.
It's hard not to feel dragged down when you see all the bad things happening in the world. We're facing so many issues that seem impossible to solve: homelessness, poverty, terrorist crimes, the increasingly urgent climate crisis, and most recently, on 13th December 2019, the Conservatives sealed a shocking majority in the general election, confirming Brexit will go ahead, leaving us in an uncertain future.
I understand the frustration we're feeling, when it seems there isn't any good news on our timelines, nothing to wake up and feel happy or thankful for. It's terrifying to think of what the vote may cost us. One possibility is that Brexit will be better than we predict. Maybe Boris Johnson will keep his word and not allow the NHS to be sold, and make us feel safe as a country. Another possibility is that it all goes downhill, threatening the livelihood of many people and damaging the fragile connection we've held with other countries for so long.
I will not lie and say I'm not worried about what the future holds. But what I can say is nothing can be done about what's already happened. There is no point in wallowing in your disappointment and hating a government you don't trust. I'm not happy about the election result, but I've decided the best thing I can do is pick myself up and move on.
As stated in a Facebook post I saw recently (view here), it's important to remember that voting is not the only way you can make a difference in the world. So here's an idea: stop feeling sad about things you can't change, and focus on the things you can change.
Buy a homeless person a hot drink. Donate to an animal charity. Start a fundraiser. Do the Race for Life. Join an Extinction Rebellion event and raise money to help battle climate change.
It's a cheesy line, but true: 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. It's never easy to make yourself fight for a society that seems to be failing, but we can't let our outlooks change our actions, because the world won't improve if our actions disappear.
Yes, there are a lot of bad things happening in the world, so the last thing we should do is mope about it. Make a positive change, and you never know what good things will fall into place.
