Hey, Jon, How Can We Change the World?
Jon Swanson and I met not long ago. It was shortly after I had started reading his blog. We haven’t talked on the phone. We’ve merely passed messages like two kids in school. Still I think that because we share a certain mutual friend and because I’ve read what he wrote I know him some what.
I wasn’t surprised when an email with Jon’s post for the Change the World series. I share it now with you.
Shaping the World in Little Ways
Guest Writer: Jon Swanson
People tell me all the time that they want to make their lives matter, that they want to do something significant, that they want to change the world.
All the time? Isn’t that an exaggeration?
Not really. I’m a dad and a husband and a friend and a pastor and a listener. Most of my conversations somehow involve people who aren’t happy with something about their situation, or something about their life or something about their job or something about the furniture or …..
But you said that people were wanting to change the world. You are talking about complaining, aren’t you?
Not really. I have this funny notion that people are connected to each other, that what happens to one person can change someone else.
Yeah, that’s the “butterfly wing” effect, right? A small action somewhere changes something in the other part of the universe. That’s so cliche.
I know. It’s silly. Of course, if I started describing the yellow swallowtail I see in the backyard right now, while sitting in the old rocking chair that my grandfather sat in, and Susan Reynolds thought about it and decided to paint that butterfly, and then put the cards on her website, where Becky McCray ordered some to send a thank you to Jim Long for painting pictures with his words and images, which made Jim particularly motivated in his camera work so that he shot a visual meditation on yellow swallowtails which was edited into the closing credits sequence at the end of the network news someday so that 2-3 million people watching were less cranky about the world when they sat down for supper and encouraged their kids instead of scolding them so that they did well on their tests the next day and school performance, just for a day, improved–would that be cliche?
Well yes. But it would be a good way to show some link love. And what the world needs now is love, link love.
That’s pretty cliche, too.
I know.
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.
Even if the action is as simple as writing a post.
Like this.
—Jon Swanson
_______
Thanks, Jon, for showing us how we are changing the world in the “ittle ways” that count.
We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
thanks, Liz, for being a significant part of changing lots of lives, in just this way.
Thank you, Jon.
You change the world just by writing a post like this one. Thank you for volunteering to say what you think and to remind us all that we can do the same thing. 🙂
Hello Jon, thanks for writing with such clarity and simplicity about such a ‘big’ question. Writing like this can really help us to see how we can, how we do make a difference.
We can get overly hung up on these big questions. Isn’t it amazing how the ‘small’ ones are so much more powerful.
“The question is whether you like the way you are already changing it.”
Words like these can really stop us still in our tracks. Wake us up.
Thank you.
Joanna
Jon, I love the way your mind works and the way the words come out. As always. It’s not a question of changing “the” world. It’s about changing “my” world– one person, one thought, one kind word at a time.
Liz, thanks for giving Jon’s words a wider audience.
Yes, Jon! I appreciate how you balance/anticipate resistance in the form of dismissing your thoughts as cliche and keep your thoughts moving forward.
Why that’s important to me, is that in deciding to share what we know, are thinking, are passionate about we can find a million reasons not to. We may assume people “get it” or already know it.
Your post reminds me that not only can we do something to change the world, we must move forward through even the tiniest of doubts.
There’s no way to tell you how touched I was to have been part of your idea, Jon. And glad that Liz instinctively knew a way to work it into a larger conversation starter.
We do change the world every day with our actions, sharing ideas through words and images, connecting one to one and spreading. And in simply understanding and conveying this, Liz and Jon have affected me in real world ways, and hopefully through me, others.
I hope they know how much I value them.
I’m ‘just’ reporting, friends, reflecting back what each of you (except Joanna) have done to encourage and challenge and change me. I’ve read that we are to spur one another on to good works. That’s what conversation among friends does, as we are having conversations.
And Susan, do you artistically represent butterflies?
Jon, I’m humbled to be one of your “world changers”. You’re right though, we are ALL doing it. People in this space are spearheading this change, which is exciting, if not sometimes daunting. Despite the seemingly overwhelming challenge of changing one’s world, I’d much rather be in charge of that change, rather than relying on others. So today, I’m keeping an eye out for yellow swallowtails.
Jon and all,
I do think that Jon, you handled this idea so beautifully. It’s such gentle reminder that no matter what we do we are changing the world. Oh how I hope that we keep our eyes open to the eays that our little changes affect those we meet, those especially that we might hurt. I know I’ve been blind before. 🙂
Magnificent.
Yes it is! 🙂
Great post. Being a parent has really brought this idea home to me. When you see your child learning from and being affected by everything you do, it’s really humbling. I know it’s made me more aware of what I say and do.
I learned early after meeting my child that he was here to humble his parents. I am here to say that he succeeded in so many ways. 🙂
I wandered over here from Susan Reynolds blog–it’s a topic near and dear to my heart. Doing small things to make a difference, sometimes intentionally, and other times without even realizing the positive things that you have done.
We tend to read about negatives of people connecting in the online world. I am amazed at the talented, caring and giving people I have joined in the online Twitter community…those conversations ripple out to blogs, email conversations and group ventures–amazing stuff.
Grinning from ear to ear, Susan answers, John I do in fact represent butterflies in a sense. You might like those in Leaves of Change either in prints or card form (also desktop stuff even) or adapted for artistamp style images.
On the other hand, those Hollyhocks and Granite Cliff Gifts both look like great places for butterflies to stop for a bit. And inspire someone to make waves.
Hey Ann!
Doing small things does indeed make a difference. One little thing done at just the right time has so filled my heart when I needed someone to let me know I was alive. . . . People can do so much for each without even knowing.
Susan,
You do indeed add butterflies to the world, with your silky colors and their filmy ways. I feel like I can fly myself. 🙂
One of my all time favorite quotes is Ghandi, “Be the change that you want to see in the world”. That’s just what Jon is talking about here. The question is what do you want to see? More kindness? forgiveness? Love? People helping people? Those with much sharing with those who have little? Neighbors who know each other? Grace? Mercy?
If I want to see it – I better be it.
Hi Anna!
That’s one of my most favorite quotes too!
Yes. If we want something to happen we need to be it. 🙂
Thanks for these comments that reflect people who are already change agents thinking about being even more effective. This has been a great day of watching people encourage each other. And thanks, Liz, for hosting the party.
I like this quote,too.
people can change the world.
Changing is endless.