In this country, we value our personal independence greatly. Yet, we often forget how much of a community we are with so many people we never meet. I can go to the grocery store and pick out whatever I want all on my own. But it took the efforts of dozens of people to give me that opportunity; from the farmer to the trucker to the produce stocker and many more. A breakdown at any time along that chain would have a direct effect on me, though I might never know why spinach wasn’t available that particular day. I will never be able to thank those players in person, but I can be grateful for their contributions.

Every day we have countless opportunities to participate as a global community, even more so now with the Internet and social media. What we do and say, the footprint we leave behind, has a very real impact and has the potential to uplift and bring us together or to tear down.

We each have so much to offer in this world, but it only benefits ourselves and others when we act. In smaller communities and villages, it’s easier to see the direct impact of everyone’s participation. If the blacksmith didn’t do his job, there would be no tools and the horses wouldn’t have shoes. If the baker didn’t work, the village wouldn’t have bread. In a global community, it’s harder to see the effect, but the concept is the same. We may never know the value that a piece of art we created had to someone else or how many children’s lives are touched by the park restoration project we spearheaded, but if we listen and act when we are called then we don’t need to know. The joy of doing our part is all we need and the ripple effect of such actions can expand beyond our wildest imagination.

In the movie Pay It Forward, the main character comes up with the idea for each person to do an act of kindness for three other people without reciprocation. The idea was that if everyone gave what they could to others, then we would all receive what we needed in some way or other. His vision saw the world as a global village. What goes around, comes around. This is a powerful vision and it does work, but only when everyone is fully participating in whatever way they are able.

So ask yourself, “What do I have to contribute? Where am I still holding back? Why am I still holding back?” We are unique beings with unique talents. No two contributions to the world are the same. Yet, we cannot do it without each other. We cannot do it alone. It truly takes the whole village to be a village.