How Will You Make a Difference Today?

When I wake up each morning, the first light of the day often brings with it a question that lingers in my heart: How will I make a difference today? Some days the answer comes easily, and other days it takes longer for me to see where I fit into the picture of the world around me. But I’ve come to understand that making a difference doesn’t always mean doing something big or remarkable. Sometimes it’s the smallest choices—the way I speak to someone I love, the smile I offer a stranger, or even the thoughts I choose to hold about myself—that can alter the course of a day, not only for me but for the people around me.

For me, making a difference begins with how I choose to treat myself. I used to think that giving endlessly, pouring myself out for others, was the only way to prove I was contributing. But I learned that when I run on empty, when I ignore my health, my mind, and my spirit, I can’t offer much to anyone. These days, I start with caring for my own body and soul. Juicing has been my anchor for years now—almost eight—and every time I prepare a glass of juice, I see it not only as nourishment for myself but also as a symbol of the discipline and care that fuels everything else I do. It’s a reminder that if I want to show up for my children, my mum, my husband, and even strangers, I need to keep myself strong. So today, I will make a difference by choosing health, by keeping my body moving during the early morning walks with my mum, and by showing myself kindness instead of judgment. That choice alone creates ripples, because the stronger and calmer I am, the better I can serve those who lean on me.

Family has always been the closest circle in which I can make a difference. My children are young adults now, each with their own dreams and fears. Lani has just graduated in fashion design, and I can still see the mixture of pride and nervousness in her eyes as she steps into the real world. Logan is beginning to explore career opportunities, preparing for life after school, finding his footing. They may look grown-up to the world, but to me, they will always be my children, and they still turn to me for reassurance, sometimes without saying it outright. Today, I will make a difference by being there for them in the little ways. Perhaps it will be a word of encouragement to remind them that they are capable and ready. Perhaps it will be sitting quietly and listening when they share their doubts, resisting the urge to jump in with all the answers, and instead allowing them to find their own strength while knowing I am beside them.

My mum, too, is a part of this daily circle where my presence can shift something meaningful. She has always been my greatest cheerleader, my best friend, and the one who believed in me even when I doubted myself. Now that she is older, my turn has come to walk beside her with the same love and loyalty she gave me. Our morning routines, like walking at the stadium, may seem ordinary to anyone else, but they are filled with laughter, stories, and sometimes silence that speaks louder than words. Today, making a difference may be as simple as showing her how much I treasure her company, how grateful I am that I get to call her my mother and my closest confidante.

I also think of those in my family who are no longer here, like Matt, my grandpa, my uncle Arbuckle, and my father figure, Peter Moore. Their absence still aches, and there are moments when I feel that a part of me left this world with them. But even in their passing, they continue to guide me. The way I can make a difference today is by carrying forward the lessons they left behind. Matt’s unwavering love and loyalty remind me to love deeply. My grandpa’s pride in me, my uncle’s dedication to blood donation, Peter’s protection and acceptance—they all taught me to live in a way that honors the people I care about. When I continue their legacy, whether by donating blood in memory of my uncle or simply by offering loyalty to my friends the way Matt once offered to me, I know that their influence lives on in every action I take.

Outside of family, I find purpose in my work and my passions. Writing has always been one of the ways I feel I can make a difference. Through my books on juicing, I’ve been able to encourage people to live healthier lives, and in my more recent work with Wordloom Studios, I help others find their voice, their story, and the right words to share it. Today, perhaps I will draft a piece that gives someone clarity about their own journey, or maybe I’ll help refine a resume that could open the door to a dream job. Words, when woven with care, have a way of reaching places I could never physically go. They move hearts, spark ideas, and create shifts in perspectives. I may never know the full impact of a sentence I write, but I trust that if I pour sincerity into it, it will land where it needs to.

Beyond work, I think about the everyday ways I can make a difference in the community around me. It might be something as small as a smile to a stranger who looks weary, holding the door open for someone rushing behind me, or letting another driver go ahead of me even when I’m in a hurry. These things are so ordinary that they are easy to overlook, but I believe in the ripple effect of kindness. A small act of consideration can brighten someone’s mood, and that brightness might be passed on to the next person they encounter. Today, if I choose to show kindness in my smallest interactions, I can create ripples I may never fully see, but they will exist nonetheless.

Another way I continue to try to make a difference is through blood donation. This practice, inspired by my uncle Zavier’s incredible legacy of over 70 donations, has become a cause I hold close to my heart. Each time I donate, I think of the unseen recipient whose life may be sustained because of that simple act. It reminds me that sometimes the most meaningful differences we make are for people we will never meet, and the act itself is enough.

At the center of it all is my faith. Returning to the Church has changed the way I approach life. The readings and the Gospel no longer feel distant; they are living words that guide my choices. My faith teaches me that making a difference doesn’t have to mean recognition or applause. It means service, humility, and love. Today, I can make a difference through prayer, lifting up not only my own needs but the needs of my family, my friends, and even strangers. Prayer, to me, is not a passive act but an extension of love. It is how I remind myself that the world is bigger than me, and yet I am still connected to it in a meaningful way.

Ultimately, every way I can make a difference today boils down to one thing: choosing love. Love is not always easy. It asks for patience when I want to rush, gentleness when I want to defend, forgiveness when I want to hold onto resentment. But love is also the most powerful thing I can offer. If I can go to bed tonight knowing that I loved well—that I spoke with kindness, that I listened with presence, that I cared even in the smallest ways—then I will have made a difference, whether or not anyone else noticed.

The question, How will you make a difference today?, is not one with a fixed answer. It changes with the seasons of my life, with the people who cross my path, and with the opportunities and challenges that arise. But the heart of the answer remains the same: I will make a difference by being intentional with the way I live, by choosing to nourish myself, love my family, contribute through my work, extend kindness to my community, stay rooted in faith, and above all, choose love in each moment. The difference I make today may not change the entire world, but it will change my world—and perhaps, through ripples I may never see, it will touch someone else’s too. And for me, that will always be enough.