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My mother once told me, "You cannot stop a ripple (in a pond)." Of course, it is quite impossible to stop a ripple. She was referring to the core/heart of a person. You cannot change that person, they must change themselves, and even so... a person's core is who they are. It is hard to change yourself, even to become better.

In reply to my mom's statement I say, "You might not be able to stop a ripple, but you can always create a new one." I'm not saying you can switch someone's core with something new and better. That's as impossible as stopping the ripple. But you can create an example, you can be an outside force, and you can help in changing someone. However, for a person to truly change and become better, they must do so themselves with a happy heart.

How do you become a better person? Well, you really need to start with having a strong desire to change and become better. You should want to change for yourself as well as for others around you. Without the will to change then you can't really... change. And if you are changing only for someone else, then you will be putting up a false wall and your core will, ultimately, remain the same.

Once you find that desire and will to change, and have the right reasons for changing, then you can try to find what problems you have that prevent you from being a 'good' or 'better' person. Say you enjoy people's misery, like to steal, have moral issues, don't share at all, or don't care about anyone besides yourself (and maybe close family). These are a few of the many problems, varying in degrees, that don't permit a person to be good and better. Acknowledging these problems is a good first step. Along the way you might find more, or you may realize you don't have some of those problems. Upon realizing these problems you'll want to try and change them, end them, and counter them entirely. So...

Ex. Problem: Don't care about anyone. Solution: Show you care. It will be hard. And for a while, you might have to pretend. But start by doing random acts of kindness. Give money to those who need it and charities. Spend time with the lonesome, TRY to listen to the problems of others and TRY to help them find a solution. After a while, after you've done something for someone, or given them something you would have liked to have for yourself, you'll feel good inside. It might be just a bit, and you might be pretending for a while. But eventually, if YOU want to change for YOURSELF and for others, then you'll change and become better.

There are so many ways you can be an over all better person. Even the good people, or the average people, can become better. Show your appreciation for someone. Give out a few kind words. Smile at the people you pass by on the streets and meet in the stores. Donate some time and money to causes and people. Do extra work/work harder. Buy your parents a present on their birthday, give your mom a Mother's Day card. Listen to people's problems and give them some valid advice, or at least just listen. If you have some dressing issues (such as scant amounts of clothing) change that, but to a point where you are still comfortable with yourself. Don't be a disturbance to teachers and peers in class. So many little things you can do to make yourself a better person. And it will be hard for nearly everyone to make the steps it takes to becoming better. But anyone, with the desire to, can be a better person. And sometimes it might take an outside influence to help them.

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