Name Your Revolution

Do you feel like we’re living in the midst of several revolutions? Listen to the news. Everyone’s revolting against a social issue, an economic program or a political party. People in Middle Eastern countries rally for new governments and in America we have Occupy (name your city). We haven’t seen this much unrest since the flower children of the sixties when they turned on, tuned in and dropped out and let’s not forget the marches and sit-ins that followed. Change is a popular, everybody wants it.   

During my college years, almost every spring our student body found an issue to protest. Like clockwork a group would rise up with a cause to champion and then out would come the tents, signs and large collections of demonstrators blocking pathways and chaining classroom building doors. It certainly kept things interesting. I guess we should expect that kind of behavior from a group of determined thought-leaders bent on impacting the college and the culture.

I bet we all think the world would be a better place if everyone shared our views. Check out this video and see if you agree with these suggestions on how to improve the world.

Sometimes a non-peaceful uprising is necessary to improve a social or political situation, but not always. Step one involves standing up for something you believe in. One person can make a huge impact on the world. Find the courage to introduce an issue and go for it! What do you have a passion to change? What’s the name of your peaceful  revolution?  

And Then We Will Change

It’s that time of the year again—and so bittersweet—as graduates of all levels move on to the next phase of life. I’m certain that someone you know is graduating from somewhere. Count the number of times you’ll say, “Seems like just yesterday….” I get nostalgic thinking about these changes. That's when I like to gaze at old pictures of the graduate pretending to be a teacher, a ballerina, a superhero or a famous wrestler.  

Here’s a song that seems to echo the sentiments of this time of the year. Close your eyes and listen for a bit.

Ms. Vaughn has quite a voice.  You’ll hum that tune for at least a week.

Although my children won’t graduate for some time, one of them decided to do a thorough bedroom cleaning, actually it resembled a purging. We ended up giving away an art set, markers, books and games, and the whole time I kept asking, “Are you sure you don’t want that?” and “You’re not using these anymore?” Feeling a little sad by the end of the process, I felt like shouting, “Don’t grow up so fast!”

While I often wish that all of us aged more slowly, from a broader perspective, I’m actually a proponent of change. I’m a been-there-done-that-so-what’s-next kind of person. Change can be great—once we get used to it. In spite of my tiny tendency to complain about new formats, instructions and procedures, (and by the way, why did the U.S. mint change the coin designs?), I try to embrace opportunities to venture into new territory. What about you?

Surprising things can happen from a few minor changes. What personal changes will you make in your life this year?      

Is Change A Comin'?

Are you looking for a change?  I think we're all looking for one, be it political, economic, or maybe just a small change in daily life.   

Nowadays, it seems everyone supports  a social cause or issue like protecting the environment or the unborn, eradicating hunger or homelessness, curing breast cancer or Multiple Sclerosis.  The realist in me knows we’ll never have a perfect world, but the idealist in me wonders why we can’t try to come close.

We’ll only make progress by tackling problems one step at a time.  So, let’s try a social experiment.  We can’t eliminate crime overnight, but how about if we pledge to drive at the speed limit—brace yourself—for three days.    Was that a groan?   The interesting thing is that someone is thinking, “No way!”  (Was that you ?) It’s as if we’re suggesting breaking the law rather than following it!  Let’s not forget to encourage the people on the phone who get distracted (it’s still legal here) and drive under the speed limit to participate, too. 

Just think, if we continued our little social experiment  for a whole year, instead of giving out speeding tickets, law enforcement might have to get some ideas from this prank:

So, remember: drive at the speed limit for three days and report back to us about your experience.  You can do it!!   Ready? Set? GO!!