What if Everybody Did That? - By Jessica Southfield
Recently, I was reading a book to my seven year old daughter titled “What if Everybody did that?” I ordered it from Amazon because we are trying to teach her about responsibility and accountability. We are a family of 12. Everyone has to do their part, pull their weight, and contribute. We talk often about how if everyone does their part then things go so much more smoothly, but thus far the lesson hasn’t really started to sink in. The little boy in the book is a bit mischievous, impatient, and oblivious. He goes about his day interrupting to ask a question, tossing just one piece of litter out the window, and breaking rules while being asked “What if everybody did that?” The book ends with the little boy walking in the front door of his home and hugging his Mom and asking “What if Everybody did that?”
It really got me thinking. The news is heavy. The economy is tight. Political tensions are at an all time high. Those aren’t really things we can wake up tomorrow and change, BUT what if EVERYBODY changed just a few simple things?
*What if everybody smiled?
*What if everybody said please and thank you?
*What if everybody held doors for others?
*What if everybody checked on their neighbors?
*What if everybody called their Mom or Dad?
*What if everybody volunteered at their child’s school?
*What if everybody fed the needy and clothed the hungry?
*What if everybody saw others as just humans and not as gender, race, religion or politics?
*What if everybody saw a need and filled a need?
*What if everybody put others before themselves?
*What if everybody was generous with their compliments and kinder in their critiques?
*What if everybody went the extra mile in our daily lives?”
*What if everybody saw the good in each other?”
*What if everybody took the high road?”
Changing the world feels impossible, but changing ourselves, our families, our communities? One day at a time, I truly believe it's possible. If we can better our families then that will trickle down to our communities. As we get ready to send our kids back to school, let's have these conversations with our families. How different would their school day look with this simple principle applied? What if everybody——
*What if everybody was kind and there was no bullying?
*What if everybody was respectful to the teachers?
*What if everybody did their homework on time?
*What if everybody looked for someone sitting alone at lunch?
*What if everybody cheered as loud for the last athlete to cross the finish line as they did for the first athlete?
*What if everybody chose not to listen to or pass along gossip?
*What if everybody smiled at even just one person a day?
We have more influence than we realize as Moms. We shape tiny humans every day! The future is literally in our hands and I’m here for it! So let’s ask ourselves the question “What if everybody did that?” As we make our simple everyday choices.