A Kind of To Do List

Happy New Year! 🎉🎇🥂

It feels a little whacko to say this when things look so gloomy in several domains, but I am optimistic that in 2025 Humanity will begin to heal its wounds, and will finally begin to answer the questions I’ve posed here so many times:

Who do we want to be as a nation?

Who do we want to be as Humanity?

We already have a lot of relevant information to work with:

• We’re seeing A LOT of who we do NOT want to be as human beings: intolerant even filled with hate, mean-spirited even cruel, belligerent and violent, greedy, etc.
• And we’re seeing a lot of how this nation is NOT serving the good of the people—mostly because so many of our systems and institutions are completely broken. They’re rampant with significant inequities, corruption, scandals, unnecessary bureaucracy, hyper-partisanship, etc. And this is basically ALL of our systems and institutions, including healthcare, education, the justice system, government, finances, media, organized religion—and many, many more.

We’ve been led to believe that much of this is just the “human condition,” and much is just “part of human nature.” Likewise, we’ve been led to believe “You can’t fight City Hall”—so we often don’t even bother.

I simply don’t believe any of this.

I think all of these statements we’ve swallowed for so long are specious—they sound true but are actually false or misleading. They’ve been forced down our throats to maintain a status quo that benefits a small group of people at the top at the expense of everybody else. (And no, you don’t have to be a conspiracy theorist to see this—it’s well documented.)

It’s time we turn that around. And not just a little bit here and there. Nope. I’m talking about fundamental change. I (and many others) envision a world where the well being of people, all living creatures, and this lovely planet is the top priority—instead of power, wealth, or “influence.” And I honestly believe this change can be attained.

So what we need is a complete re-set. What we need to do is create a “Global New Paradigm.” (But don’t let that scare you….)

A Global New Paradigm?? Impossible!?

“New Paradigm”—a revolutionary new set of beliefs and way of doing things that replaces the old beliefs and actions.

And in a Global New Paradigm, it’s not just for a system here and there. But rather global across ALL of our broken systems (as listed above and more), and global as in around the world.

Impossible you say? Well according to Worldometer, the current population of earth is 8,197,301,506—and increasing every second.¹ And each of these people has a unique set of knowledge, experience, talents, and abilities (including our young folks). Even given that some people will choose to not participate for some reason, I find it impossible NOT to believe: 8 billion people working together CAN get a lot done.

But how do we do that?

First of all, I don’t believe that creating a Global New Paradigm means problem-solving on a global scale—as in one-size-fits-all solutions. Each country, culture—heck, each community—faces its own particular problems or versions of shared problems. So:

The key is to start in communities and then build on that….

Change Begins in Communities

Many researchers studying change, and innovators working to implement change have concluded that lasting change begins in communities. And lasting community-specific change happens when the identification of problems and solutions, and the implementation of those solutions are all done by people who actually live in the community, who know it best, and who are invested in and committed to having their community work. So the process is completely grassroots vs. for example, government-led.

It’s already being done—with great success. You don’t hear a lot about it in the news—such “good news” doesn’t really sell. But if you Google it you’ll find a whole slew of examples. (And definitely check out the community work being done by The Harwood Institute I so often mention here.)

These various programs and projects are taking what I think is the only approach that will work now: rise above and work outside of the existing broken system(s) vs. working within the confines and restrictions of them. As Buckminster Fuller said:

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

And It All Begins With YOU

Yes, you. You know your community best. But please don’t be intimidated or overwhelmed by all of this. Remember: fixing problems will be community projects where various people can contribute their skills at different points in the projects.

All you need to do right now is begin to identify problems. YOU DON’T HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE ANSWER FOR HOW TO FIX ANY OF IT! For now, just let that go. Only pay attention to and note problem areas.

As you go through your normal day and evening, what do you observe doesn’t serve or benefit the people of your community? What is it that you find yourself complaining about to family and friends? What’s an area of community concern you personally have experience with? Write it all down in a list.

For example, my friend who flips houses (not just superficially but rather HGTV-like tearing down walls and reconfiguring floor plans) has first-hand knowledge of how the local building permit and inspection system actually ignores engineering Best Practices and puts unreasonable demands on builders.

Likewise, from Steve’s experience in a skilled nursing facility in our town of Cottonwood before home Hospice, and now my experience in a rehab facility in Phoenix, I can attest that the people who most need nutritious food, e.g., to heal, are instead fed atrociously unhealthy food. And I’ve heard from many people that this is universally the case in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs—pronounced “sniffs”).

I’m not a nutritionist and can’t solve this problem. But I can note it as a problem so someday soon, a knowledgeable community group can tackle and resolve this and other problems in the community. Then the solution can maybe be used in other communities nationally or even globally—thus enabling a “global” fix.

So again, we’re just looking to identify problems right now. Solutions will be developed by somebody else at some point down the road, and implementation by even another person or group of persons. Although you may also be involved in one or all of these project phases—if your talents, experience, and interests align with the problem.

But for now, this is not YOUR To Do list; this is a “kind of To Do list” for your entire community.

A Final Thought

I’ll leave you with this: I just don’t believe Source/God created this beautiful planet and the miracle of Humanity to see either suffer so much and even perish—and right now, that’s the path we’re on. We’re being divided, goaded to be intolerant and violent, led to believe nothing we do will change anything, and pushed into fear and hopelessness. All the complete opposite of Oneness.

It’s up to you and me to create a new path—working together, across divides, on shared goals. Actually living Oneness.

It’s time.

Finally, using the term coined today by my friend, writer, and writing coach Mark David Gerson²: I wish you a Happy New Paradigm!

P.S. I know I’m harping here on your local community. But, hey, if in the process you observe problems or areas of concern in a larger community—even on a national or global scale—start another list. At some point, somebody can pull those lists together, and then a larger grassroots group can work on those problems.

P.P.S. You know how I like numbers. Well 2025 breaks down into 2+2+5=9. Nine in numerology is the end of a cycle. How apt that 2025 will be the year that we end the old paradigm—and begin creating a New Paradigm.😁

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Footnotes:

¹ Worldometer: Current World Population

² Check out Mark David Gerson’s website to see his available books, Zoom writing groups, courses, workshops, and the Mark David Gerson School of Writing.