This is a non-business article, but you may find some business applications too.

My intent is to share some ideas that any of us, or all of us can do to have an impact on someone else.

Too often we are caught up in our own day to day lives that we don’t see the big picture or the deeper situation.

Last week I was at a luncheon and afterward my friends Amber and Jon and a couple others were talking about Facebook and school delays, and closings due to the weather.

While they were talking about the teachers and other staff that were suffering with smaller paychecks because they get paid for the hours and days they work, my mind wandered to something that I saw recently.

The number of kids that were going hungry when school was closed.

It’s a different world than when I was growing up.  I never had to worry about having something to eat, but for too many families, the school lunch program is the way they ensure their kids get a hot meal at least once a day.

We can argue about the political side of this with the pros and cons of government programs and the blah, blah, blah…

Or we can Make An Impact.

Feed a kid.  The ones who live next to you, the ones down the block.  The ones who are on the other side of town.

Every time the schools are closed due to weather, it’s more than an inconvenience for parents who need someone to watch their kids, it is a missed meal.  Try skipping your main meal for a day or two and see what it’s like if you think it’s no big deal. Then do something about it.

One more way to Make an impact.

Stop and listen to someone.

Really listen.

And I’m not talking about the person who has all the answers and everyone wants to be “friends” with.

Find that person who is not the most popular and reach out to them.

Ask them about their life.  You are not there to fix or solve anything.  Just listen and perhaps discuss.

You’d be amazed at the impact you can have on someone by simply giving them the gift of your attention.

At church this past weekend, the pastor was asking people to stand up if they were involved with nearly two dozen outreach programs that he named.  These were people who are making an impact by volunteering their time, but it doesn’t have to be limited to an organization.  You can do it on your own too.

What are some other ways someone has made an impact in your life?