Nearly everyone agrees that things are pretty screwed up, that the world is in bad shape, that our leaders are leading us down a dangerous path. Our country, the USA, is a mess, and the planet seems to be headed to Hell.
Climate change. Corruption. Endless war. Terrorism. Overpopulation. Environmental destruction, water shortages. The list goes on and on.
What can one individual do to change the direction in which we are heading, to remake the world? Plenty. It starts with you, with me, with us. Remember We the People?
An old aphorism says, If you want to save the world, save yourself first. I say, if you want to change the world, start with yourself. Become an activist and drop being a reactivist. Stop complaining. Let your mantra be, “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!”
Here are seven simple solutions for changing the world — your world, and mine.
1. Refocus your perspective. Look at life as if you are in charge — which you are — and not a passive victim of circumstance. You have the power!
2. Clean up the place. That is, our planet, our earth. Never litter; recycle whenever possible. Let your next car be a fuel-efficient one rather than an SUV. If you smoke cigarettes, stop smoking ASAP.
3. Check your grocery receipt. Watch the cashiers. Stores make mistakes at appalling rates which favor the store at least 90 percent of the time. The companies call it “human error.” Whatever — it adds up to billions of dollars every year that customers are cheated out of. When the cashier makes an error in the store’s favor, call it to her/his attention immediately. Make sure the error is fixed, even if you have to call for the manager.
4. Always vote, and be sure to vote for the smarty pants. Please, never again vote for the guy you would most like to have a beer with. Millions of you did that — twice in the last few years — and you see where that got us. Vote for the geek, even the nerd, the person who seems to have some intelligence. Our future leaders will need to be super-smart to lead us out of the morass we are now in.
5. Have some cell phone etiquette. Cell phone use in America has become a hostile act. Those walking around the street or in the supermarket or in the mall yammering on their cell phones are not connected to reality. Cell phones have come to symbolize our distance from each other, our lack of respect for the other, our loss of civility in America. If you are a cell phone abuser, take a look at yourself as others probably see you. Good luck!
6. Lose weight, now. Americans are way too fat — at least 60 percent of us are overweight. A fat body equals a fat mind; a fat mind is easily manipulated. Think about cattle being fattened up for the slaughter. Then see your doctor.
7. Never let “them” get away with it. Call or e-mail corporate headquarters; go right to the top person. Write letters to the editor. Speak up and speak out — remember our mantra. Go to city council meetings and protest stupid decisions. Politicians bend; they are basically, secretly afraid of We the People. Change happens. It happens all the time.
Call on Thunder Mountain Productions for top-quality writing for any purpose, on any project, on any subject. Creative Director Marv Lincoln has years of experience as a writer, reporter, columnist, advertising and PR executive, and book editor. His work has appeared in many national periodicals. Visit http://www.sedonapr.com/ for more information.