The Inconvenience of Change
Submitted by Tina on Mon, 01/25/2010 - 20:10.
This blog is centered on a theme of kindness and I'm often writing about the need for change in some of our social habits. The word "change" has become an amplified buzzword with folks ready to jump on the revolution wagon shouting it, but most remain paralyzed when it comes to actually implementing it. Do you ever wonder why? This is the question Matt Cheuvront asked some fellow bloggers. Why is change so inconvenient?
Matt's goal with his e-book called The Inconvenience of Change is to illustrate the power of community and the impact one person can make. He is offering this free e-book compiled of 38 bloggers' perspectives on change and why it can be so difficult. He requests that his readers share it which is precisely what I'm doing now.
I thought Jun, one of the 38 bloggers in this e-book, had a good point where he explains the need for an epiphany moment of seeing for yourself to make it real. Jun gives an example of a polluter witnessing a seagull struggling to untangle himself from a plastic soda wrapper ring. Seeing the poor seagull struggle is concrete proof that it is necessary to consider the effects of leaving trash behind. Then he goes on to say, as many of the other bloggers mentioned, don't preach change but teach change by example. In his own words, "If your friend doesn’t throw away his trash you need to pick it up for him and make sure that he sees you do it. This kind of change is gradual and not guaranteed, but if you are the example of the change you want to make happen, then there is a possibility that it will." This mention of gradual change reminds me of the comedy, "What About Bob" as Bill Murray keeps repeating "baby steps, baby steps." We often fail because we try to do too much, too fast, with expectations of quick results.
I agree with Matt's statement, "It's not the world that need change, it's ourselves." And I never underestimate the power we have as individuals to improve the everyday lives of our neighbors through small acts of kindness.
You can read The Inconvenience of Change on Matt's blog Life Without Pants.
