Make a new friend {Mandela Day} 1 / 67 ways to change the world

As promised on Mandela Day 2013 (19.07.13), this is the beginning of my series on their 67 suggested ways of changing the world.

It comes under the category of 'Think of others':

1. Make a new friend. Get to know someone from a different cultural background. Only through mutual understanding can we rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.


“All good people agree,

And all good people say,

All nice people, like Us, are We

And every one else is They:

But if you cross over the sea,

Instead of over the way,

You may end by (think of it!) looking on We

As only a sort of They!” 

― Rudyard Kipling, Debits and Credits

'We' and 'they' are dangerous terms, but as Rudyard Kipling explains in his poem above, they are only as relevant as you make them. In a time where there is a lot of crime or violence targeted on people based solely on this idea of 'we' and 'they' (differences in religion, race, nationality, etc), be a voice and an example and engage with people who you may not naturally spend time with. The more people who behave in this loving (or at least non-judgemental) way, the bigger the difference we can make!

So embrace you innner Miss World contestant and do something active to help bring about 'world peace' :)

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: Getty images}