The answer is the person standing next to you

How nature can teach us to act locally to create global change.

The world’s problems seem so large—beyond what one person can fix. How can I, as just one person, affect global change? How can I rejuvenate our planet instead of watching it slide into a climate catastrophe? What can I do to alleviate deep-rooted societal inequalities and the cost of living crisis?

The answer is the person standing next to you.

We feel so overwhelmed by the forces of the meta that we have forgotten the power of the micro.

If we want the world to be kinder, healthier, and more vibrant, we don’t have to go to the UN, blow up oil pipelines, or stand on our own in front of an advancing tank. Because, quite frankly, most of us won’t do anything like that, and so we despair but do little or nothing.

We can begin with the person standing next to you.

The person standing next to you. So close, they’re often unseen. Another island like you in a sea of trouble, worry, and problems.

Except “no man is an island”. We belong to one another through an infinite web of connections.

The coffee you buy from the independent coffee shop helps buy a pair of shoes for the owner’s daughter.

The cleaning job you give a local mum helps keep her family together.

The stranger you talk to on the train decides it is a good day after all and makes a decision that changes their life forever.

The web of connections we share with the person standing next to us means that everything we do that makes their day better can change the world for the better.

Don’t believe me?

Then, let’s talk about mushrooms.

Stand in a forest, and there is life everywhere. Trees rise up to the sky. There’s a rustling among the leaves as a squirrel goes about its business. The wind whispers gently through the trees, and we feel a sense of peace as we stand alone, away from the troubles of the world. Except we’re not alone. Right under our feet is a vibrant network. Nutrients are extracted by trees and plant roots from the soil to help growth. But not just for that one tree or plant. Because connecting everything rooted in the ground is a network called the “mycelial network”. Made up of mushrooms. Or, more accurately, fungi.

If you’re wondering how I started with the person next to you and now I’m underground in the forest, stick with me—we’ll get back there.

The mycelial network is often described as the “Wood Wide Web,” a complex underground system composed of fungal mycelia that connect plants and trees. You see, mushrooms are the fruit and the means of reproduction, with all the action happening underground. Resembling a vast web of thread-like structures, fungal mycelia bind with roots to form symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in the exchange of nutrients, water, and information. It’s a remarkable example of mutualism, where both fungi and plants benefit. The fungi receive sugars produced by the plants through photosynthesis, while the plants gain better access to water and essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that the fungi help to extract from the soil.

But it’s not just nutrients in this network; ”infochemicals” play a critical role. These chemicals function as signals or messengers, allowing various organisms in the ecosystem to communicate. For example, when a tree is under attack, it can release certain chemicals that are detected by the mycelial network. The network can then distribute these chemicals to other trees, no matter the species, warning them of the potential danger and prompting them to produce defensive compounds. But not only this, the mycelial network actively distributes these defensive compounds and nutrients from healthy trees and plants to those who are struggling, helping to maintain the overall health of the forest.

All right under your feet as you stand there enjoying a moment of mindfulness on your own.

Except you’re not on your own. And this is the point.

We are all connected by an invisible and infinite web of relationships.

Every positive action towards the person standing next to you creates a ripple effect. As you influence those around you, they, in turn, influence others, creating a cycle of positivity and change.

Indeed, while grand gestures and monumental shifts in policy are crucial, they only come to life through collective action built on these smaller, personal relationships. The power of the micro isn’t to be underestimated; it’s the foundation upon which broader meta change can be built.

We can talk about creating a better world. Or, we can enrich the person next to us, the people in the street we live in, and the community surrounding our place of work.

The change we seek starts with the person we’re standing next to.

So, where can we go next with this?

Well, let's start with you. This is me talking to you as the person standing next to me. I'm encouraging you to take the first step.

The first step in affecting global change is cultivating a state of peace and harmony within ourselves. Imagine the potential impact if each of us goes about our day wishing well for the people we meet. If we harbour resentment, annoyance, or engage in quarrels, we feed into the cycle of negativity that can escalate into greater societal issues. The balance of the world situation could indeed tip based on our individual behaviours. Hence, when we talk about beginning with the person standing next to us, let’s not forget that the first person you must consider is yourself. By achieving inner peace, you lay the groundwork for a more peaceful, harmonious world.

Inspired by this, maybe you'll share this article. And, maybe, you'll also consider creating a local initiative, joining a community group, or becoming involved in social or environmental projects that are achievable in your immediate surroundings. Or, simply buy locally, independently, and ethically. Your personal impact may be local, but, like the proverbial butterfly flapping its wings, the global impact can be profound.

And all we have to do is be a bit more mushroom.

I challenge you now—make the day of the person standing next to you that little bit better, and let's see where that takes us all.