All–

Looking back at 2008, I feel that I have grown more in the last 9 months than I have in the last 9 years.  Not only have I started to think without my ego, I have also started to align my heart and mind.  And I must tell you its a wonderful feeling.  (Read more here).

That said, I want to take the next step in my growth and continue this positive growth.  There is no better time to start change than now, and 2009 feels so much different.  We may have faced troubled times as a nation, but don’t we learn more about ourselves when we are down than flying high?  And we become stronger minded from it.  It is always darkest before the dawn.  And the dawn is near.

My Idea

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of how I can affect change.  I take Ghandi’s quote rather literally when he says, “be the change you want to see,” and I have been living that.  But I also think people are inherently good.  And they want to do good.  BUT, solutions are often found to be too complex for people to bite off.  So instead of biting off just a chunk, they turn their head and fall back into routine.

I’ve been thinking of putting together a web site that breaks down the issues facing the world today and ways in which we can affect change today, this week, this month, and this year.

For example, it is thought that the next war won’t be about religion, but about water.  It is clear that there has been some major investment in water recently.  And we all know that investors don’t go after an idea because it will help mankind (unless there is profit in it for them as well).  Unfortunately profit comes from scarcity.  Water is already an issue, we just don’t know it yet because the consumer is always the last to know.  We can’t have a water crisis because we’re America–wrong.  Or perhaps we can’t because it still comes out of our faucets–again, wrong.

Water is a major issue and a complex one at that, but there are things we can do to affect change today.  When you brush your teeth tonight, turn off the water until you need it again.  Take shorter showers (or try turning off the water while you soap).  Reduce the frequency in which you water your lawns (and turn off the automatic setting if it just rained).  Some sprinklers use upwards of 4 gallons per minute.

The same small, manageable solutions can be done about trash, energy, poverty, etc.  As Americans we produce an average of 4.5 pounds of trash per day… each! That’s ridiculous.

My question to you…

If there were small ways to affect change with personal choices and actions would you be part of it?  Would you even give up some things you have grown accustom to for the global good?  Or perhaps you wouldn’t budge from your “living standards.”  In all cases, I want to know why.  There is no right or wrong answer here.  While I feel this might be best for me, it may not be for someone else.  And that is okay.  I can and should only focus on changing my own views and perceptions.  As Ghandi says, “lead by example.”

I love you regardless, but would love you much more if you told me your thoughts before I embark on this new project.  All perspectives are welcome, seriously.

Thank you!