It seems that everywhere we turn, we continue to face heartbreak, challenges, and horrible realities in our world. We’re still facing the realities of the global pandemic, we’re watching countries suffer war, death, and famine, and we’re experiencing the highest cost of living in our history. For me, there are some days when my daily challenges seem pointless when I think about the larger events happening in our world. People are losing their loved ones, their homes, their freedom – it can be difficult to concentrate on my day-to-day responsibilities when these things pop into my mind.

So I started the exercise of seeing what I can do to help, give back, offer support, and just be there for my brothers and sisters in mankind. These things can be big or small, but it helps me feel like I’m doing what I can to make sense of all these horrific events, and even if I can help one person a day, I’ll feel more at peace, and it will inspire me to take more of these actions on a regular basis. Kindness is contagious, and there’s never been a better time to showcase your generosity and spread the good spirit.

1. Make financial donations

Given the war, there’s so much we can do from the outside to provide resources and support for victims and their families. The healthcare system is overrun with outstanding needs, so you can donate blood, volunteer, or even give meals to healthcare workers that are overworked and being stretched too thin. If you have the means, you can also make donations to families in need that might be affected by inflation, the low minimum wages, or even at homeless shelters that need resources.

2. Make a pass through your home

Every 6 months or so, I like to do a full inventory of my apartment to see if I own anything that might serve someone else in a better or more efficient way. This could be anything from clothing or shoes to personal toiletries or books. When I make the donation to Goodwill, I ask the team in-store what items people are asking for the most often. I’ll take that list into consideration for my next semi-annual home pass to see if there are items I can bring on my next trip.

3. Build awareness

For many of us, having additional resources might be rare, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to contribute or give back to your larger society. Another great donation you can make is your time. Thanks to our digital technology in today’s world, we’ve never been more connected to the rest of the world as we are now. Spreading awareness is the backbone to making any kind of change, so if you can’t contribute your finances, time, or items, you can donate your words. You can sign petitions, share posts about communities in need, participate in marches, or even contact your local government if there are changes needed in your immediate community. Your voice is just as powerful as your wallet, so there are so many great things you can do if you want to be more involved in making a change in the world for the better. A really effective strategy to raise awareness for causes that may be close to your heart is to round up a list of nonprofit organizations that focus on a specific cause or group. You can create this list, complete with their widgets that call for donations, and then distribute that list within your digital social network. It’s amazing how powerful the share button can be, and there’s no harm in sharing with your network what is important to you. Maybe for your birthday, in lieu of gifts, you can ask your network to instead donate to a cause of your choice.

4.Listen and engage

Ultimately, change cannot take place without active listening and engagement. We must participate in a dialogue that is respectful, helpful, and engaging. We must share our ideas and ensure that we really listen to the various perspectives and experiences from others all over the world. It isn’t until we truly listen until we can see a change take place. Encourage your friends and family to participate and join in the conversation so that your loved ones can be a catalyst for change.

We’re living in a very strenuous time right now all over the globe. It can be difficult to focus on your daily needs and responsibilities when it feels like the world is crumbling all around us. Help your neighbor, but it’s just as important to take care of yourself as well.

April is a WONDERFUL time of the year to flex your outdoor activity muscles, as the weather is significantly more forgiving, meaning you’ll have so many more options to explore New York City, see new things, reconnect with old friends, AND put your learned English skills into real life application. April is often considered the “rebirth” month, thanks to the Easter holiday as well as spring showing her true colors with warmer days, blooming greenery, and fresh air. THIS is the month when I tend to come out of hibernation mode, as I officially pack up my winter jacket and start bringing my sunglasses everywhere I go. April gives me a second boost of energy, thanks to the excitement of warmer days and more fun things to do.

As the pandemic restrictions continue to lighten, this also means that you can reacquaint yourself with your favorite activities that you may not have been able to participate in over the past two years. This goes without saying, whether you’re fully vaccinated or not at all, it’s still strongly encouraged that you bring a mask with you, be conscientious about washing your hands, and still get those tests so you know when to stay home and recuperate. And if you’re looking for ways to put your English skills to use in real life as we’re adjusting to spring as well as the lightening of pandemic restrictions, look no further than the list below!

1. Easter Parade, April 17, Midtown Manhattan

Regardless of the religious background in which you were raised, Easter is a major holiday for celebration, and New York City is no exception. Parades are an absolute staple in the Big Apple, so here’s your chance to witness another iconic event. The event starts at 10 am, so be sure to leave earlier than that so you can grab a good view, and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, as the parade runs from 49^th Street to 57^th Street. There will be huge crowds here, so again, just be smart and bring your mask to be on the safe side. This spectacle is going to be visually stunning, so make sure your phone is fully charged so you can snap the best pics, share them with your networks, and use your English writing skills to make your photos viral, using the trending hashtags and tagging all your friends in this historic event.

2. Earth Day, April 22, New York City all over

This holiday has been around for as long as I can remember, but there’s never been a better time to be more cognizant of our home and how we treat our planet. Global warming’s effects are increasing at rapid speeds, and we all need to come together now more than ever before to do what we can to mend, heal, and repair as best as we can. I’ve been more diligent of the footprint I leave behind, and I’m always looking for new ideas to preserve our natural resources and protect our home. This year, I encourage you and your friends to come together on April 22^nd to participate in community events, give back, donate, or simply devote some of your energy into planting trees, cleaning up parks, or limiting your energy resources. We won’t be able to see or make change overnight, but small habits can quickly and easily turn into bigger ones, so let’s do what we can to prolong our planet’s lifespan for as long as we can. Follow social media hashtags to see what’s going on in your neighborhood and engage in English to build your own network as well as your own English skills!

3. Central Park picnics

I want to stay on the environmental theme this month in honor of Earth Day. I’m making it a mission to not only be sensible and conscientious on the day itself, but I’m striving to extend those behaviors into the whole month of April. I’ll walk to my destinations instead of hailing a cab; I’ll open my windows to stay cool instead of turning on my fans; I’ll unplug my appliances when they’re not in use. We have one of the most beautiful parks in the world in our backyard, so I plan on wrangling my social group to spend our weekends here to soak in the fresh air and do what we can to give back. See if you can do this challenge as well!