How will you know if you made a difference?

I try to volunteer whenever I can; serving meals to homeless on the holidays, collecting donations for shelters, raising money for toy donations... I don't know if the differences I make are out of the norm, but I know when I hand a homeless veteran a blanket on cold nights, that it's out of the norm for him and that's a difference. I know when a young mother brings her children to the local school and is served a hot, full holiday meal, that's out of the norm for her and that's a difference. I know when I raise money and get local companies to donate cases of toothbrushes, hats, mittens and socks, foot/body powder and packages of dry goods, I know when that stuff is handed out to the homeless, it's out of the norm for them and that's a difference. One of the only things that convinces me that I make a difference, that I've improved someone's day, is the smile I just can't wipe off my face when I head home to my sweet little boy, in my warm home, with lots of food, knowing that I may not have changed the world, but I changed someone's outlook on the day.

I am an author.....and I hope to make a difference by writing my books and selling them to provide entertainment and maybe a little lesson. My poetry I consider gifts of love. So I hope to bring a little love and inspiration into other's lives.