Still Making A Difference

Think about everything you've learned over a lifetime.

The things you learned at work. The things you figured out raising a family. Skills someone taught you when you were young. Mistakes you made and lessons you learned from them. Things you've built, repaired, grown, cooked, sewn, managed, created, or cared for.

And then there are all the things you know that you've probably never even thought of as knowledge.

How to calm a crying baby. How to stretch a dollar when money is tight. How to tell when a storm is coming. How to grow tomatoes. How to change the oil in a tractor. How to make gravy without a recipe. How to handle a difficult customer. How to keep a marriage going through hard times.

A lifetime teaches you a lot.

And just because you've retired doesn't mean everything you've learned suddenly stops being valuable.

That's what Still Making a Difference is all about.

There are people in your family, your neighborhood, your community—and perhaps people you've never even met—who could benefit from something you know, something you can do, or simply the time and attention you're willing to give.

Maybe a young person would love to learn a skill you take for granted. A new farmer might appreciate talking with someone who's already lived through droughts, low prices, broken equipment, and difficult years. A grandchild may someday treasure the stories you remember about people in your family they never had the chance to meet.

Maybe you enjoy woodworking, sewing, gardening, baking, bookkeeping, fixing things, working with animals, playing music, or organizing people. There may be ways to use those abilities that you've never considered.

And making a difference doesn't always require a special skill.

Sometimes it's listening to someone who needs to talk. Helping a neighbor with something small. Reading with a child. Volunteering for something you care about. Calling someone who's having a difficult week. Showing a younger person how to do something instead of doing it for them.

You don't need to change the world.

You just need to matter to somebody in it.

As you explore this section, we're going to help you look at your experiences, interests, abilities, and even some of the ordinary things you've done your entire life with fresh eyes.

You may discover that something you never considered particularly special is exactly what someone else would love to learn.

Or you may discover an entirely new way to contribute that you've never thought about before.

Because growing older doesn't mean your useful years are behind you.

You still have knowledge worth sharing, things worth creating, people worth helping, and experiences worth passing along.

There are still differences that only you can make.

Click on a topic you'd like to explore -
Under Development

Sharing What You Know
You probably know things that someone else would love to learn.

Think about the skills and knowledge you've picked up over a lifetime—from farming, cooking, sewing, woodworking, repairing things, raising a family, managing money, running a business, or doing your job. Something that seems ordinary to you may be incredibly valuable to someone just learning.

Teaching the Next Generation
Some things are best learned from someone who's actually done them.

Explore ways to show a child, grandchild, young adult, or someone in your community how to do something you know well. You don't need a classroom or a lesson plan—sometimes the best teaching happens standing beside someone and saying, “Here, let me show you.”

Passing Along the Stories Only You Know
There are stories in your family that may disappear someday if nobody tells them.

Share memories about the people, places, traditions, hardships, funny moments, and everyday life you remember. Record them, write them down, tell them to your grandchildren, or simply start talking. Your memories are part of your family's history.

Creating Something for Someone Else
Something made by your hands can carry a little piece of you with it.

Explore ways to use sewing, woodworking, baking, gardening, photography, crafts, writing, or other abilities to create something meaningful for family members, neighbors, community organizations, or someone who could simply use a little kindness.

Helping Someone Find Their Way
Sometimes experience is most valuable when someone else is facing something you've already been through.

A younger farmer, new parent, business owner, homeowner, coworker, or neighbor may appreciate having someone to ask, “What would you do?” You don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes sharing what you've learned is enough.

Lending a Hand Close to Home
You don't have to join an organization to make a difference in your community.

Check on a neighbor. Help someone with a small project. Give someone a ride. Share vegetables from the garden. Bring a meal to someone who's having a difficult week. Small acts can matter far more than we realize.

Finding a Cause That Matters to You

Giving your time feels different when it's connected to something you genuinely care about.

Explore churches, schools, community groups, animal organizations, museums, food programs, youth activities, local events, and other causes where your time, experience, or helping hands could make something good happen.

Discovering the Difference Only You Can Make
Your next contribution may be something you haven't even thought of yet.

Look at what you know, what you've experienced, what you enjoy, and what people naturally come to you for help with. Somewhere in that combination may be an opportunity to teach, create, encourage, mentor, help, or contribute in a way that's uniquely yours.