I scanned my bookshelf for something to read this morning (it’s a beautiful day out and I wanted to steal an hour or two under a tree in the park, you know?) and I just wasn’t feeling like heavy reading. So I looked at the thin books. Change the World for Ten Bucks caught my eye. It was a Christmas present that I haven’t looked at in 2 months.

On the cover (see above) are three smiling people, vaguely implying a really, really nice protest movement at a barbecue down the street, with the tagline: Small Actions x Lots of People = Big Change.

That’s sound logic. And I’m not rich, so finding things to do for ten bucks always sounds pretty good to me. I took the book down and flipped it open. The first thing that struck me is that the book is part of a movement: We are what we do. A good version of “you are what you eat,” right? You should check out their website- they’ve got a running total of how many people have reported doing one of the things suggested in the book, and so they are keeping track of the small actions by lots of people as a running story of the Big Change.

When I was writing this they had: 4,769,487 actions completed. Pretty good- I wonder if these folks have tried making it into a Facebook cause…

My favorites and why:

#2: Talk to Old People: They know cool stuff you don’t. / Talk to young people: They know cool stuff you don’t.

Why: Some of the best advice I get is just talking to my grandmother about the weather. Just hearing her tone and how she refers to things makes me realize why she is really happy, full of joy and surrounded by friends. And I spent a half hour yesterday digging in a flower pot with a fork with a 2 year old. That’s wisdom. Go do it.

#5: It takes half as many muscles to smile as it does to frown. And it makes you and others feel twice as good.

Why: This one makes me laugh (which apparently is half as hard as being upset…) because what, are they telling me to be lazy? If you want a good workout you should frown a lot, right? Just kidding. But seriously, though…

Action #25: Use a Mug not a Disposable Cup.

Why: Because it’s one of those common sense things you mean to do all the time but only do like once a week. I’ve got a disposable cup next to me right now. BUT!... it’s compostable, so that makes me ok, right? Right? Remember, smiling is half as hard!!!

Action #35: Write to someone who inspired you.

Why: This is my favorite. It combines saying thank you, which is so powerful, with reminding yourself of the inspirational moment, which is of course powerful. Love it.

I think my first will be Action #47: Buy this book for a friend. Never hurts to throw in a little self-promotion with your good deeds, right?

Photo Credit: Me on my MacBook