10 Pretty Simple Things We Can Do To Build A Better Country

In a post that’s going viral on social media, Lorenzo Davids – CEO at Community Chest of the Western Cape – lists 10 important things we can each do to build a better South Africa and a better future for all of us:

1. Stop tipping car guards R2.

Parking is not that cheap anywhere in the country. And that R2 says more about your attitude to them than about their willingness to protect your assets. Try spending R50 or more once a month on buying them a bag of groceries when you buy your own. Or just give them the R50.

2. Race, cultural and religious superiority is evil.

Stop practicing it and stop encouraging it. Stop giving race, culture and religion agency to determine other people’s value.

3. Be aggressively kind and humble.

Insist on doing things for people and serving them in ways that will help to ease their burdens. And don’t expect “a favour in return”. It’s especially meaningful if you do your kindness to people who have no means to repay you.

4. Pay for a stranger’s preschool, primary school and high school education.

Establish an educational bursary fund in your family. It doesn’t matter how small it is. Put money aside to invest in expanding the educated base of this country. Our long term prosperity depends on it.

5. Don’t litter.

But more than that: pick up litter. Especially in public places. Especially if it’s not your own. Keep your environment litter free. Litter has a psychological impact downstream – it makes people devalue their circumstances.

6. When you see something is broken and you have the means and the tools – then go fix it.

Even if other people broke it. This is what kind and generous people do. And it’s how great countries are built.

7. When you are asked to do something or give something to help others, always have the attitude of saying yes first.

Saying yes introduces additional options to solving problems. Saying no introduces negative energy and often makes small challenges even bigger.

8. Never be proud or arrogant or insistent on a position or title.

Your first name is your most important title. And position. Nothing else matters. Be happy to sit in the back and happy when no one mentions your name. It’s so laughable nowadays that at every speech I listen to, important people must be mentioned and greeted in the introductions. Tell people that you don’t subscribe to such protocol. Be happy to just be with people – and never insist on your name or title being mentioned.

9. Practice active and continuous forgiveness.

Become an active forgiver. Whatever you’re angry about or criticise, also be willing to forgive that which angers you and which you criticise. Forgiveness is a healer. Of both you and the other. Anger is a destroyer. Great countries have great forgivers.

10. Always do the right thing.

Even if it’s costly. And even if you’ve failed – many times. And even if your race, culture and religion tells you otherwise. Have the mindset that says: I will do the right thing. Doing the right thing is where the change begins to have impact. You free yourself and others when you do the right thing.

I know I said 10 things, but here’s an important 11th one:

11. Let your secret greatness be greater than your public greatness.

Let who you are in secret always be greater than who you are in public.

By Lorenzo Davids

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