It’s no secret that there has been a lot of heart-wrenching tragedy at the front and center of the news lately. It’s a lot to take in, a lot to process, and a lot to try and understand.

With that comes the inevitable outpour of opinion, suggestions of what should be done, and, of course, countless posts on social media.

Now i’m certainly not here to tell you what to believe, think, say, or preach. Definitely not. But what I am here to say is this: the little things we say and do matter. And they matter a lot. 

And not just in “times like these,” but all of the time.

Our interactions and communication with others – both verbal and nonverbal – all create momentum and energy which cause a ripple effect that will either be positive or negative.

That ripple effect can be overwhelming, though. And if you’re anything like me and not sure exactly what to do about the mayhem in the world – and not just in Paris, but everywhere – then let me open the door with a few simple ideas that can immediately be put in place.

You may remember these from back when you were a kid…

1. Think, and even more importantly, LISTEN, before you speak.
2. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.
3. Stand up for your beliefs, but remember that yours are not the only beliefs out there.

Small acts of kindness and human decency have more power to create big changes than we may realize.

Be kind. And then encourage others to do the same.