8 surefire ways we can all make a lasting impact and add more meaning to life

Brought to you by Vhi Women's Mini Marathon.  1. Create a Sense of Community Find something all your friends or neighbours can do. Something that will leave everyone feeling elated. It could be as simple as setting up a book club or trying out the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon. The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon takes place in Dublin City Centre on Bank Holiday Sunday, June 2, 2019. Over 30,000 women will be taking part. So why not get a few friends or those in your local community involved? ENTRIES ARE OPEN and yes — we'd highly recommend going for it! Jog, run, walk — it doesn't matter. Just join in on the fun. Not only will it have an impact on the lives of those who join in and get fitter, it's also the perfect way to help your favourite charity or give towards something you're passionate about. 2. Our Actions Shape the Environment If you think your own little impact on the environment is too small to make a difference, think again. If everyone thinks this, nothing will ever change for the better. Cycle to work instead of driving or even getting the bus. Organise swap shops locally or in town where you can exchange garments and clothing with others rather than making yet more purchases. Trust us, there's always something used that's still totally stunning for that wardrobe. 3. Consider Micro-volunteering Hectic schedule? Snap! Micro-volunteering refers to short-term flexible opportunities to give back. It's increasingly popular as it means giving whenever you can, a little bit at a time. If you take a peek at the Volunteer Ireland website you'll find some ideas like Ireland's Garden Bird Survey where they ask you to take note of any sightings. The National Library of Ireland's Commons invites anyone to help date and provide information for images, aiding their archive too. Simple things go a long way. 4. Become a Mentor Sharing your skills with others will give you a sense of responsibility and pride while the receiver will be on their way to mastering something entirely new. It's a win-win! Get the word out in your area through social media or ask can you pop up some information in a local shop. Someone, somewhere is keen to learn the skill you possess. 5. Spend Time with Someone Elderly When we ourselves reach old age, we'll be only too delighted to receive some company and kindness from others. Many people find old age lonely, as leaving the house can be an ordeal for a variety of reasons and family may be dispersed too. Light up an elderly person's day by doing one of the easiest things on the planet — spend quality time with them over a cup of tea and a nice chat. No doubt, they've got plenty of wisdom to share with us too. 6. Donate Blood It'll cost you nothing to save a life or even many! Not everyone can donate blood but it's entirely worth finding out if you can. It's one of the easiest ways to make a massive difference to someone's life. 7. Homeless Food Run There are charity organisations that arrange food runs usually in the evenings to deliver sandwiches, soups and drinks to those living on the streets and who desperately need them. You'll not only make a huge difference to someone's day but you'll end up meeting like minded, caring people who really want to see a difference being made in our communities and beyond. 8. Challenge Yourself We constantly compare ourselves to others — their successes, how they look, their goals. Ignore this. It's much healthier and positive to consistently try and compete with ourselves. Try beating your previous time from your last 5k run or previous Vhi Women's Mini Marathon! Beginning to walk each day is pretty big too. Try going from couch to 5k — you certainly won't be the only one. PLENTY of women who take part in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon are there to improve fitness — so you’re not alone. Rest assured, great things will happen once we get moving. So, in a nutshell, kindness and the act of giving is what we and society need. It's that simple. If you find a charity, a cause or even a way to give in your own community, it's worth taking part. Giving not only makes the receiver feel good but it’s known to reduce our own stress and leave us feeling fab. Mutual giving brings with it experience, learning and growth — which in turn means we get a lot out of it too. We feel valued. After all, it's a powerful thing to change someone's situation for the better. It would be a miserable world without kindness yet it costs us absolutely nothing and can make a world of difference. Try volunteering at your nearest animal rescue, set up a local initiative to better your area, and you'll notice your thought process shift. Being kind helps us to recognise the same trait in others more easily. In turn, our perception of the world becomes a whole lot more sunny and bright. Remember, all great things start small — so go on, give it a go! Brought to you by Vhi Women's Mini Marathon.  Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon takes place in Dublin City Centre on Bank Holiday Sunday, June 2, 2019. Thirty-thousand women will take part in the 10km race. You can walk, jog or run the event (approximately 65-70% of women taking part walk it). Many women take part to raise funds for charity, though it should be noted that you do not have to fundraise to take part. Entry fee is €25 and postal entries are available until April 30. Entries will close in mid-May.