As we near the end of Advent and enter the Christmas holidays, thoughts inevitably turn to the next year. Many of us worry about economic forecasts and other uncertainties, and are anxious about how these may be exacerbated by events and information that fill our social media news feeds. We live in the world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which challenges our desire for control and mentally overwhelms many of us.

Truth be told, the VUCA world is becoming more uncertain, and people are more brash, negative, and harsh toward others. In our social media feeds, I tend to see how mistakes are amplified, and suspicions fly, further negating the accused.

The vital question to ask ourselves is whether we should add to the uncertainty of the VUCA reality. I think we should not. Rather, we should pursue a path of daily living that reduces the volatility and uncertainty not only for us but for others in the community. To achieve this, I believe, therefore, that many of us consider doing our part to create order and harmony in our world and spheres of influence. This also has the effect of inspiring others to do the same. I am sharing five simple, everyday behaviors and habits we can do and must normalize and practice.

The first is returning our food trays. As many of us dine in fast-food restaurants, we know that we should do our part to get the tables of the restaurant ready for the next customer. It is a courtesy that pays goodwill forward, encouraging the next patron to do the same.

The second is putting our waste in the proper bins. Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act, was passed for a reason, and I believe we all have to do our part in disposing of garbage properly. This is especially true for plastic items that cannot biodegrade. When allowed to enter rivers and open canals, they clog waterways and exacerbate flooding when hard rains come. I believe one of the marks of a mature society is how well it manages its waste.

The third is respecting pedestrian lanes. As motorists, we should respect pedestrian lanes and stop when people are crossing. This helps ensure the safety of all.

The fourth is forgiving others as we are forgiven. When someone does us wrong, the best we can do is to forgive. I believe the forgiveness we offer them comes back to us when we make our own mistakes, as we are imperfect beings. It also encourages those who have wronged us to forgive those who may have committed errors against them.

I hope that this simple list of behaviors we can normalize and practice can afford us some introspection and help us focus on what matters. As 2026 is around the corner, may these simple steps be magnified to promote the common good and make our communities safer, more loving havens where solidarity can be better achieved as we all face an uncertain world.