We know about microaggressions, but what are micro-gestures? Well, it might just be considered the opposite.
But how can people use micro-gestures to make a difference when it comes to battling homelessness and hunger?
According to https://www.mindbodygreen.com/, these two important social topics have to be addressed in a way that can be digested by getting to the “root of the problem.”
This comes with doing something not always at the top, but at the ground level to truly make change, and it can happen with everyone pitching in.
LaRayia Gaston, activist and founder of the nonprofit organization Lunch On Me, said that people can get so bogged down with the issue at hand that they forget that they, as individuals, can do something major in someone’s life.
“We can get overwhelmed by the problems,” she says on an episode of the Mind Body Green podcast. “[But] the state of the world is no one person’s problem to solve… It’s all of us showing up, doing our part, and things will cancel out themselves.”
Gaston said that leading the change can start with looking into doing a micro-gesture to help decrease the hardships of homelessness and hunger, which then could make a “chain reaction of positivity and love.”
What is a micro-gesture?
“We don’t need to have some huge life-altering shift to show up for the world. We need to see the small missed opportunities in our daily life,” says Gaston in the article. Micro-gestures are described in the article as simple, everyday interactions that can bring about huge results.
“It’s easy to be overwhelmed if we’re frozen, if we’re not doing anything toward something better,” notes Gaston.
Gaston describes this mini, but vital movement, below:
- Grab them a coffee.
If you see someone outside of a coffee shop or gas station who needs help, like Gaston (who loves a cup of Joe) said she will usually grab someone a cup four or five times a week.
“You normalize the idea of just being caring,” she explains. “You’re taking what you do with your family and your [household], and you’re bringing it to strangers.”
- Keep bottles of water bottles in the vehicle.
If driving around in the city, keep a case of bottled water in the vehicle. As people are thirsty and/or hot, grab one and pass the liquid love around, according to the article.
- Keep granola bars on hand.
“I always have one or two granola bars in my purse,” Gaston says. “They’re small and portable enough to fit in a day bag, yet you can find filling options that pack in nutrients. A simple phrase like, ‘are you hungry? I have an extra granola bar’ is so simple, but it can make someone’s entire day.“
- Keep small bills on hand.
Gaston suggests keeping small bills easily within reach if near a restaurant, store or something of that sort.
Five dollars can even make a big impact on someone, per the story.
“You can still be intentional,” says Gaston. “‘Hey, I hope this can help you later. Here’s five dollars—this is what I had in my bag.’ But I put it in my bag with the intention that I’m going to help someone wherever I’m at.”
- Acknowledge these individuals.
It doesn’t take much to make someone’s day, especially if they are on the street or nearby. The article suggests that giving a smile, or asking if these people are okay can help give people facing some trouble a sense of humanity.
“I see people who you can tell have had a hard day, and I ask them, ‘Are you OK? Is there something I can do to help you? What’s your name?’ These are small things, and it shifts dialogue; it restores humanity.”
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