There is no better place to begin to make a difference than within our own selves. Without looking within, we cannot truly make a difference in our exterior environment. It is amazing to see the transformation that can occur in our outside environment, when we purposefully work on ourselves within. People often say to act selflessly, I sort of disagree, and I've basically given up on the idea of completely selfless acts, they are very few and far between. I used to have arguments with myself every time I would do something nice, as to whether what I was doing was genuinely selfless, and if so, then what the hell was I doing arguing with myself about it? I finally settled on the fact that I could not possibly do a completely selfless act, as I feel good, sometimes elated, after an action. I settled on the notion that if there was a heaven, and I was to present myself to God, that He would look at me and say, you did the best you could. And that is my point, we need to do the best that we can, but if we do not have a good relationship with ourselves, then we cannot function at our best with the world around us. So selfless may not completely exist in my book, but I say, act selfishly, just for the right reasons! Act, knowing that what you are doing can have a direct impact on you and your descendants. Act with the knowledge that if feels good to do good things. Pat yourself on the back when you do something good. Smile, because it releases endorphins into your system, which make you feel good. I used to think that these things turned a selfless act into a selfish act, they do - but if that is what works to make us better, more aware people, then so be it!