September 6, 2007

Change the World: Venture Up the Words

published this at 4:57 am

Hey, Joanna, How Can We Change the World?

Change the World!

This morning I was greeted by an email from a dear friend, Joanna Young. I am often encouraged by her words as I start my day. This email said, “it felt like the thing I needed to write. You know how that can be.”

Yeah. I do. We know I do.

I knew before I opened it that what Joanna wrote would move me. Anyone who reads her blog would know that. So, without another word of my own, I share it now with you.

Finding the Courage to Write

Guest Writer: Joanna Young

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the feeling that something is calling to you, blinking at you, trying to get your attention. “You need to do this”, it says. “You need to write this”, it tells you.

Liz’s change the world series is one of those quietly persistent flashes of light. It blinks at me: here I am, still waiting, patiently.

Sometimes it asks me, quietly: what are you waiting for?

Because the words, the idea, the possibility of writing something that’s about realizing the power of our own words to help change the world – well, that’s right up my street. It’s what I believe. Truly, deeply: that the words we use can help shape our reality, create the kind of world that we want to live in.

So what is it, the question goes, what is it, then, that you are waiting for?

And sometimes when I see another post go up, another beautiful button with a picture of this world we hold so dear, the simplicity of the message, the persistent reminder of those words, change the world… and the gentle, quiet reminder at the end: we can change the world, just like that… Sometimes when I see that button I get a jolt of anxiety that someone other than me will write the words I’m trying to find, that I’ll be too late, will have lost, or wasted the opportunity.

And so, the question persists, quietly: what is it, then, that you are waiting for?

And there are those times when I read other people’s words here , so simple, so powerful, such a compelling reminder, that yes, our words can and do make a difference that I’m jumping up and down in front of my computer, muttering yes, yes, yes! to my startled, sleepy, cat.

Words like the recent contribution from Jon Swanson, words that took my breath away with their power and simplicity, the conviction of this simple message:

Here’s the point. To talk about deciding to change the world ignores the fact that we already are. Our existence, our interactions, our writing, our time, our love, our hate–all of these things are shaping the world in small ways. The question is not whether you are ready to change your world. The question is whether you like the way you are already changing it. And whether you are willing to be part of helping other people change the world. too.

Our choices, our actions, our words, our decisions to write, or not to write: they all count. They’re all part of this bigger picture, one post at a time.

I know this. And yet: what is that you are waiting for?

And I realized. It’s not the words. It’s not the skill with the words, playing with phrases, finding just the right pattern and rhythm. Because I can do that. It’s not hard for me.

But writing this, answering this question, this quiet persistent question is hard. It’s hard because alongside the quiet, persistent question runs another line of insistent chatter. Who do you think you are, writing for a readership like that? Who do you think you are, offering up your paltry words to someone who knows so much, has written so much? Who do you think you are, offering up such small words to such a big task: change the world…

And so I realized. It wasn’t the words I was waiting for. It was the courage.

The courage to say: this is the best I can do. These are my words – they’re all I’ve got. I can’t think of anything smarter, wittier, cleverer, more appropriate to say. I’m sorry – it’s not enough.

And then I wondered: perhaps if this is how I feel, well maybe there are other people out there who feel the same. Perhaps if I venture up these words, however inadequate to the task, who knows, somewhere, some day, perhaps these words will resonate. Connect. Help to make a difference.

Help us to answer this gentle, persistent question.

What is that you’re waiting for?

–Joanna Young.
_______
Thanks, Joanna, for being a light, being a voice, and being there to help us see what to do.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.

Filed under Motivation-Inspiration, Successful Blog | 14 Comments »


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14 Comments to “Change the World: Venture Up the Words”

  1. September 6th, 2007 at 7:50 am
    Keren said

    Hi Liz,
    I was really touched by Joanna’s letter on your blog. I feel she is absolutely right. :) That we are already changing the world but the question we should ask ourselves is if we’re doing enough or our best. And then having the courage to do so.

    I also felt compelled to write to you because it reminded me a little of my work. It’s weird because at work, I deal a lot with helping people and it never ceases to amaze me how sometimes it takes a lot of courage to ask for help as much as it does to offer help to others.

    I was trying to find a way to email you other than this address but couldn’t- maybe I missed it :) - to ask if you wouldn’t mind writing about our little community in your blog as well. We’re a little site where people help each other.

    We recently had a member wishing for courage to face her past as a victim of sexual abuse and her wish was granted when she felt the community behind her! (This is the link to her wish http://www.wishood.com/Wish.aspx?w=2643). It was just neat how these simple gestures where people reached out helped her continue and she will re-pay the next person in kind, I really do believe that making the world a better place in small ways is contagious (if you open your heart to it) :) .

    We have many wonderful moments where people just commit these random acts of kindness and I’d love it if you wrote about us so that we could spread the word and may be slowly encourage more of those moments around us.

    Please feel free to contact me anytime at keren@wishood.com.
    I look forward to hearing from you soon and thank you very much!
    Keren

  2. September 6th, 2007 at 9:01 am
    Joanna Young said

    Well it’s thanks to you too Liz, for being so patient in your gentle encouragement to us all…

    Joanna

  3. September 6th, 2007 at 9:02 am
    ME Strauss said

    Aw, Joanna!
    What’s a kind word when the people, like you, who come here are so incredible? What you wrote is truly moving. :)

  4. September 6th, 2007 at 9:29 am
    jon said

    You two offer a community of hearts. You are, between you, creating space for writers to be encouraged, to sharpen our craft, and then turn to our other audiences with courage and confidence that we do have a voice, whether others choose to hear or not.

  5. September 6th, 2007 at 10:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Keren,
    Thank you for your moving comment. It blows me away. The humanity of the human race is what saves us all.

  6. September 6th, 2007 at 10:27 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jon!
    I was just getting to send you a message after my client phone call. I’m so glad you made it over to see what Joanna wrote. You also do so much to make a space for people to speak. :)

  7. September 6th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
    Joanna Young said

    Keren, I’m glad that my words resonated in some way and helped you to get in touch here. It always amazes me when our words connect like that.

    Jon, thanks so much for what you said. I’m going to print it out and keep it by me. But please also remember it was your words that gave me a large portion of the inspiration and the courage…

    Joanna

  8. September 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
    Rosa Say said

    Now this is a posting to savor and be cheered and encouraged by. Thank you Joanna and Liz for sharing this with all of us.

  9. September 7th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Rosa,
    That means a lot coming from you !! :)

  10. October 25th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
    Party Comments 1-210: 56 Links from Successful and Outstanding Bloggers - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Joanna Young Writer, reader, place: writing with ho’okipa When You’re Stuck for a Story 10 ways our words can make a difference Change the World: Venture Up the Words [...]

  11. October 30th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
    The Relationship Blogger: not a one-link stand » TravelBlog Archive » Family Travel said

    [...] Joanna Young Writer, reader, place: writing with ho’okipa When You’re Stuck for a Story 10 ways our words can make a difference Change the World: Venture Up the Words [...]

  12. October 31st, 2007 at 10:45 am
    Fiesta virtual en lo de Liz Strauss de Successful Blog » Rouge: Temas de negocios y tecnología para mujeres said

    [...] Joanna Young Writer, reader, place: writing with ho’okipa When You’re Stuck for a Story 10 ways our words can make a difference Change the World: Venture Up the Words [...]

  13. August 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
    Introducing three powerful new voices at Confident Writing | Confident Writing said

    [...] for Liz Strauss as part of the Change the World series – and it was his words there that inspired me to contribute too.  He produces some amazingly simple, thought-provoking material – and writes a mean comment [...]

  14. July 17th, 2011 at 3:55 am
    Finding the courage to write | Confident Writing said

    [...] – you can read the piece that I sent off to Liz last night and she (in true Liz style) published first thing this morning.  [...]

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