I’m sometimes amused by the path that my chaotic and random thoughts take in reaching a particular destination; that journey of intellectual clarity and discovery that so often results from seemingly innocent origins which eventually leads to some profound personal endpoint.

I was trolling the internet today, neither looking for inspiration nor having any goal in mind other than mindless meanderings and entertainment among shared Facebook posts, passing along random bits that caught my eye. Some were humorous; some were serious.

Perhaps by chance, perhaps by fate, I landed upon a meme graphic of a Rumi quote: “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

I smiled while I absentmindedly shared the passage.

Later, after sifting through numerous hate-filled political diatribes and news of yet another mass school shooting, my mind kept coming back to the words of Rumi; so much so that it began to dominate my thought process in search of something intangible on a subconscious level.

After a cursory web search I found this similar sentiment uttered by Gandhi:

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.”

Those words would set the stage for what I would take away from the experience, which I now share with you. Take from it what you will.

So many- far too many- air their grievances and concerns about life’s issues and challenges wishing that this would change or that would change and this is good for the public discourse as it engages society in a discussion of those issues; but when it comes time for the possible solutions to actually be implemented the energy ceases to flow as freely and and forcefully as it does during the debate.

You see, so few- far too few- want to spend the time and energy required to actually bring about the changes they would like to see, to implement the practices that they believe would solve the problem as they see it. The feeling is that someone else- somewhere else- will take the stage for them. Instead of shouting from the seats, take the initiative to join the cast.

If you disagree with the policies and directives of those voted by the majority into public office, air your concerns in intelligent and respectful dialogue. Using defamatory nicknames for this group or that group, this person or that person, does nothing more than decrease the seriousness and legitimacy of your position.

Practice tolerance and peace, not hate and prejudice. Share with others even though you are in desperate need yourself. Allow others to live their lives in privacy and happiness with those they love, as you would show love to those in your own life. Fear not the stranger standing in line or walking by on the street. Say hello and nod your head. Then, only then, will you no longer be strangers.

If we work together instead of against each other we can finally build a society worth living in.

Well, that’s my opinion anyway, I could be wrong.

– R. Wolf Baldassarro

© 2013 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions