change

for years the pace of our lives has grown faster and faster. advances in technology, medicine, transportation, and communication have led each of us to a life filled with fast transactions, quick fixes, constant movement, and shallow conversation. meanwhile, within this framework has also risen a sense of optimism. . .a belief that there is no problem too big which we (a "unified" humanity) cannot solve. in the most recent climate of political rhetoric each of us has resonated with the hunger for a better world (and a change in our current world). 

there are more advertisements that promise 'change' of some kind than ever before, and in this moment in history the blur of 'change' messages have begun to move people . . . somewhere. but where? where is this all heading? can we really unite together and somehow turn the tide of the plagues that haunt mankind (sickness, greed, racism, intolerance, genocide, divorce, jealousy, hatred . . .and the list goes on)? 

a deeper thread seems to be running underneath this maze of attempts to unify people towards change by mass unification--the popular thought that moving in one unified stream with other individuals promises the only hope which can solve all societal ills. for the record, i actually think this ideology is true. but the thing that scares me a little is that this wave of mass movement is as-yet undefined by the recognition that all societal problems begin within the smallest unit of society . . .individuals. 

in other words, if anything is going to change globally it must begin with individuals recognizing how they themselves have contributed (and constantly contribute) to the larger problem at hand. when mass movements attempt to correct humanity by calling for "political" change--without taking ownership of personal individual failings--misunderstanding has set in deeply, and movements that begin with great idealism and optimism can become upended by some with significant influence, who attempt to use the platform of 'change' for their own purposes--whatever their purposes may be (i.e. to sell a product, to gain even more power etc.). 

take for example this video as an example, which ostensibly promotes 'change' through unifying generation "we" and together upending the way we utilize our natural resources. this is a noble ideal...but listen to the power-dynamic that is in play throughout the video . . ."once we are unified we can control the american landscape." very subtly the focus shifts from unification for change to . . . control, and who has control. i know, you might think i'm espousing a conspiracy theory, but i am not. i'm simply pointing out that whenever we are swept up with the masses in ideological promise for change, simultaneously we need to stay keenly aware of others' and our own propensity to lose sight of whatever change we're hoping for. we are broken people who have great capacity to live in denial of our own agendas, and rather than changing our ways, we forget we're part of the problem instead  opting to manipulate circumstances for our own or our own benefit.

whatever change happens globally in the coming year, do not forget that the greatest change must occur in you.