Happy New Year - and new decade! I am happy to let go of both the past year and decade. Vicki and I were walking earlier today and talking a bit about the old and new. On so many fronts (none need repeating here) we as a nation have had a tough go of it for some time. We can certainly hope for better to come.
But in our talk we realized there is more than hope to lean on. We know of so many people who have decided to respond to the times by setting a new agenda - one that is more thoughtful of the impact of their actions and one that seeks to produce real good in their lives and the lives of others. Yes, it's been hard, but at the same time people have learned from the difficulty and are, I believe - and my latest national research confirms - ready to take another course toward more meaningful lives.
But ah... the agenda.
Among my most sobering lessons this year, even though I know I am on to something good with supporting community, the mere fact it is a good thing to do does not mean it is on anyone else's agenda. More than any other year I can remember, I have had the most trouble getting one thing from people this year: their attention! This economy has stopped us all in our tracks and caused us to rethink our direction. Most, if not all, of us have hit the reset button and are sharply focused on our next steps and figuring out our own individual tracks out of this mess.
I hope you are planning to do good this year. But even if you are, don't make the mistake others will join you. As I read more about the Great Depression one new theme is coming clearer to me: persistence. Don't give up, don't be discouraged even if you think you are the only one doing what you do. Do it anyway, it will be good for you. And if it helps one other person, it's worth it.
In this new decade it appears that, if we are to save the world at all, we will be less likely to do it in mass and more likely to do it one person, and one act at a time.
Final thought on that - even if you decide not to join another's task, keep a watchful eye. When you see someone trying to make this a better place, say thanks. Take encouragement and leave some behind from and for those who are doing what they can for a better day, year and decade ahead.