We Want The World To Be Better!!!

Who, how, where, when and what. Those are the questions we ask. That we work with.

The “who” may be answered by “me”. The “how” by getting out there and doing something. “Where” is often responded to with, “right here, of course!” “When?” There is no better time to begin than today. And “what” will we do? The things that will better our community.

Activism is the action of working toward social change. The idea of changing society. For the better. For the majority of us, that is what we want.

To be…Better. To live in…Harmony. To promote…Unity. {{more}}

Last week, a friend and I were talking about activism, a younger generation, and some of the thoughts we had related to it. We love each other and want to do more with our lives. I think you will see some upcoming collaboration. It triggered these thoughts.

I remember my first activism project. A woman used to speed past our home after work. I had yelled at her on a couple of occasions. But the big, white Buick never slowed down. One day she had sped up our road and went off the edge, killing my cat, Friskie. (Yes, my cat was close to the road, but she was speeding.) Following my tears, I found my calls to the police did nothing, and I began to call all the selectmen to get a speed limit sign. At first, nothing, but then I had others begin to call and I called the newspaper. A few weeks later there was a 15 MPH Sign at each end of the road.

I am a 64-year-old man who cut his teeth in the “protests” of the ’60s. Activism for a better world. My mom was a civil rights activist. My own passions included ecology and environment, population and health, as well as few others. I sat through protests, riots, and change. My school brought in activists of the time including Timothy Leary and Reverend Sloane Coffin. During that time, I did everything from taking exhaust samples from buses (ecology), wore badges (population, politics, and others), wrote letters and handed out flyers and pamphlets.

Let me be real. Not everything I do today was the way I thought it was then. I will not pretend to have done it all right or have figured it out. But I do believe we can ALL participate in making our society better. All of us.

With regard to activism now, my life today is NOT to injure others in the process. I want to approach ALL things through the eyes of love. Without anger. Without yelling or screaming. I am passionate about the things I am concerned about. I still write letters, talk to people and look for the better in life. And I work hard at it.

Many years in the 1990’s I embraced this process I live today. To lift up the oppressed without destroying the oppressor. To not injure others while I am helping those who were less fortunate. Let us bring honor to our causes. Yes, some things are bad and hurtful, but if we denigrate others how do we win others to our cause? To not be willing to let our anger cause destruction to others.

“What can I do?”

I know many believe activism may be illegal or brushes up against legal parameters, and for some, it may be true. In this case, I am talking about things that promote community.

Some folks believe activism is “all or nothing”. I don’t think that. And with the world in such a polarized state, fear can come up to keep us from doing the things we believe in.

For the purpose of this writing, I am going to stick to the things that promote positivity, change communities for the better, and lift all people up to a better realm of life.

I think the biggest decider is “what are you passionate about”. I know one of my grandsons is passionate about pets and can’t wait until he can volunteer at the humane society. For him, he would be the one to develop funds to make sure all are cared for. (He often reads to the pets.) His passion is the pet. For me, it is about the bringing together of families and communities in positive gatherings.

I am a firm believer it is more important about what you support rather than what you are against. You may have a lot of people jump on board to be against things (Just look at Facebook!) but at the end of the day, I want to be able to walk down the street. (Please remember I am the “positive” one. )

For many of us, we have multiple passions. Lots of causes and concerns. What is the one that ranks highest with you? That is more than likely the one you ought to pursue as you begin this journey.

Begin to follow your cause through social media and the news. Find and share the things that are important to your values and your belief.

From there, move out and start to participate on a local level. Find those that are wanting to change things similar to your way of thinking and connect and collaborate.

Begin to devote your time, talents and treasures to the things you are passionate about. It may include donations as well as letters and phone calls. Put your energy behind and with those doing what you are supportive of.

I fully recognize that were we talking about things related to politics the air might be heated. Things might be different. (Which is also why I spoke only of positive things.)

My heart is that we would move from random acts of kindness to purposeful acts of being kind, as well as sensible acts of beauty. That we would begin purposeful actions of betterment for the sake of our families, communities, and regions. Living with intentionality and purpose. Dedicated to making things better.

Each day I share stories about those who have made the decision to leave places better than they found them, raising the quality of the lives around them. I share stories about those who use their businesses and influence to make their communities better. I think we can all do that. It may take some thinking and some dedication, but we can do it.

Let us begin to be the ambassadors of goodness, the provocateurs of positivity.