The absence of change is death. Living things change, it is their nature. Highly active beings, those which change most rapidly, are called lively.
On September 5, 1774 a group of 56 people met in Philadelphia, PA because America was in a state of change. Fifty-six men made decisions that day which were far reaching and long lived. Had that meeting not been held the entire world would be a different place today, 234 years later. The First Continental Congress met because Parliament, not the band, had initiated change which, to the colonies, was mostly intolerable.
Today we are in change which is, by must, intolerable.
The change we face today is global yet the opportunity to affect change could still rest within the thoughts and actions of as few as 56. I see at the top of the screen today there are 114,857 members of Active Rain. It also occurs to me that the name of this network is Active Rain. It isn't Real Rain, Passive Rain, Panicked Rain, Republican Rain, Democratic Rain, or even Happy Rain. Out of a number of people that large it seems reasonable to expect a small group to be considered lively. It seems reasonable to believe a small group could start a change to echo not only across the nation but around the globe and into time.
Today we need change.
Both major presidential campaigns today talk about change. Change we need. Change was needed in 1774. The change we need today is different and the same. We are a people oppressed, not so much by government - at least in America - but rather by the lack of action of grass roots leadership. Grass roots leadership just like you.
What change do we need?
Everyone will answer differently. Most will say we need change in government. They will say we cannot trust the current elected officials to lead us through the change we need. Many will say we need change in regulations - either more or less or just something different. Those who say these things will be dancing around the real answer. They will be toasting marshmallows they did not make on a stick they did not fashion over a fire they did not build.
You can experience change or you can cause change.
When my son was very young he was very active. He was a little agent of change. I noticed in him he easily gave way to flights of fancy. In other words he let the world around him cause the change in his activities and thoughts. We started very early, he and I, having conversations about this. The saying we now know is "either control your life or life will control you". He is still working on it and I pray for him daily. But what about you? Are you a victim of change? Are you an inactive participant in the massive, global change sweeping our world?
Change is not passive nor are its agents.
The butterfly effect is not real. Physics do not work the way that little story would have you believe. A moth flapping its wings in Detroit does not cause a breeze to blow ten inches away much less in Tokyo. Why? Because like small changes in life there are other laws of nature in place to absorb those changes. Now gather every moth, butterfly, bird, bat - all flying creatures - into one great body and you will get massive change. Keep that chorus flapping their wings in unison and you will effectively initiate the greatest change possible from that assembly.
You can change your world today.
Almost everyone in the world is looking for an answer. There is not one country unaffected by the change which is currently sweeping the globe. Massively wealthy countries and totally impoverished countries alike are pressed down and together to look for a solution to these intolerable changes. Yes, I am writing of global revolution. This one fought against ourselves with no shots fired from any weapon.
Change requires acknowledgment.
We can all easily acknowledge change is needed. Once we finally stop playing the blame game we can move forward. Most have done so but I still get emails and phone calls and even read posts and blogs by people trying to accuse this group or that or even point out one specific man or woman. Friends, just as one person or group is powerless to "fix this mess" it took legions to "get us into this mess". What we need to do is understand the most important thing for each of us to do is to remain calm. Hard for me to do because I truly am facing the very real possibility of losing everything I have put together over the last several years - not unlike many of you.
Challenge to you to be the change.
My eyes flew open after only four hours of sleep because I need change in my world - today. Not only do I need change in my business, I need change in YOUR business which may change my business. You need change in my business which may change your business. What I want to challenge every ACTIVE Rain member to do on this day when we will see our markets plunge and probably recover - perhaps more than once - is to Be The Change. Start in yourself and affect those closest to you - they are looking for strength and honor in someone close to them. I am normally very opinionated and often too quick to respond but people around me do not need that today so my change is to reach into the part of me that is strong and honorable.
Today, starting right now, I will change ME. I will bite my tongue when someone says something I judge to be "wrong" or sound "stupid". I will remain calm and dignified regardless of how much more stress I "think" I have than the person(s) with whom I an interacting. I will look for solutions within my power, not blame for things already done. I will make small changes to my method of thinking and acting. I will prefer to be affectIVE instead of affectED which will make me more EFFECTive.
Change we can commit to.
You and I can not make new legislation in ourselves to change the world. You and I together can start change where we live. Not by lipservice but by action. What will you do starting today to create a climate of change in your world? How can I help you acheive your goals of change? We can be the first two to flap our wing in unison even if I am a purple moth and you are a yellow chickadee.
Change your world or it will change you.
Ken Cook - Change Agent #101 - 866-946-0120 - I will commit to your change plan. Call me or email me - we will flap our wings in unison and achieve change that could spread through time.
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