No man is an island, no man stands alone. Each man’s joy is joy to me. Each man’s grief is my own. We need one another so I will defend. Each man is my brother. Each man is my friend.
I love the words of this song and the sentiments expressed. I love the idea of a world of unity and each of us being as helpful and kind to each other as possible and not taking advantage of one another.
By the way, if you thought this post has anything to do with that television program of the same name as my post then you are mistaken. Read on anyway. This is good. This is about living well on less money and having the ‘island experience’ where we are helpful to our neighbours so that we all are well taken care of.
I was watching an episode of Ellen Degeneres recently and she has been promoting the idea of paying it forward’. By this, she is encouraging her fans to share kindness with others around them. I just love it! The whole idea fascinates me!
Anyway back to the story. On the particular episode, a 16-year-old was recorded trying to pay it forward, only, in this case, she, the 16-year-old kept saying she was ‘paying it backward’. It was so funny but understandable because she had just come from doing a wisdom tooth extraction and the medication was causing her not to be able to think straight. She did her bit. She was in line in a drive-through for some hot drink and she requested to be allowed to pay for the hot drink of the occupants of the car behind her. I’m sure you would join me in applauding her.
But seriously, let us try to think of ways of paying it forward for a fabulous love island
You can check out these posts previously written : Random Acts of Frugal Kindness and 7 Tips on being a good Neighbor. Honestly there are some amazing tips in both posts.
Have you seen someone struggling counting pennies or cents to pay for their grocery shop? Why not help out by offering them a pound or two to make up their change? It can make such a difference to their life and certainly spare them some embarrassment.
I saw a gentleman once in line in front of me and after his shopping cost was totalled, it was obvious he could not afford it and so he was asking the cashier to delete and take back certain things off his bill and I noticed that the things he was willing to give up were fruits and vegetables. I offered to help. He graciously accepted and was very very apologetic when offering up his gratitude. I was glad I was in a position to be able to help this old man and hope that if ever I am in need of this sort of help, someone will be able and willing to help me. That is what is a classic example of what I call living on a love island.
Do you know of anyone who is elderly and not able to move about as much as they would like to? What about offering to take out their garbage for them or what about helping them with little errands outside or perhaps inside the home? I know we live in a world now where there is so much mistrust, but this love island I am thinking of would have none of this mistrust and people would really support each other.
The society we live in is becoming more and more eco-friendly as we face a lot of challenges that cause us to be less than kind to our earth. I like the fact that we are becoming more eco-friendly and I really abhor the fact that we have been forced to be this way because of the tragic turn of events as a result of our actions.
Whilst some are of the view that it is a little too late, I beg to differ. I think whatever we can do now to help we should and every minute step will help. Likewise, there are some who think that if most people won’t make the effort then they won’t make it either. NO! Stop and think! Be on the side of those who think logically. Do your part and who knows, you might just inspire someone who otherwise would not have done anything to help or support this love island of ours.
Don’t drop litter.
Clean up after yourself.
Save on resources.
Walk if you can instead of driving.
Take local or national holidays.
Avoid food waste like the plague.
Why should we add our good food to landfills? Hard-earned money has been used to purchase this food and if we then waste it, it is paramount to filling landfills with our hard-earned cash. Look at it that way.
I recently downloaded an app on my phone called Too Good to Go. On the app, various organisations charge a fraction of the cost of some food items rather than throwing it in the tip. I applaud them. It is more ideas like these we need on our love island.
Let’s learn to make this love island of ours beautiful, so beautiful that others will want to come to see it.
Plant trees.
Beautify a green space near to where you live.
Make your outside space beautiful with lovely flowers that give off a variety of amazing aroma which will be of benefit to the wild life around you.
I know of a lovely scheme called Britain in bloom where neighbors come together to make different areas of their community beautiful. It can be done. It can be maintained and will add another dimension to our love island.
I’m sure you will be able to think of other ways to make our beautiful island full of love without costing too much. Tell me about some of it. I’d be eager to know. Let us make this love island of ours a place where many, not just a select few, will want to be.
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