change the world

my changes are incrementally growing and influencing the world as it influences me and I grow. anyway, I need this slot for a new goal :)

my contributions to change the world may be small, but to paraphrase an old saying: “If you’re not part of the problem, you’re part of the solution”. I’ve written about working to end the death penalty (another of my goals), and the ball is rolling—yesterday the LA Times reported that the legislature is discussing a moratorium on carrying out any more death sentences. it took the killing of a nobel peace prize candidate to motivate people, but every bit helps. and maybe reading this will help you :)

“i have everything i need to do the things i want and i have everything i want
to do the things i need”

i was told to write it 100 times on small pieces of paper (post-it stickers
work well) and put them all around my house for 30 days.
the first time i did it i had a “can’t hurt, might help” attitude. that was in
1987. i’ve given this away to anyone who will listen. just tonight, a friend
who wrote it out a little over a year ago, admitted to me that she is starting
to feel different. i’ve given it to waitresses (in addition to the tip) and
then been told months later how much their lives had changed. i didn’t do it!
they did it! i just passed on what had been given to me.

work to end the death penalty is one way I’m trying this. let’s see what happens…

how will you be remembered? or is remembrance important? I recall the “butterfly effect” where every sneeze influences the world. that’s not the type of change I’m looking for. I’m looking for a “Linus Torvalds” or “Shawn Fanning” type of change. I don’t think I have what it takes to make a “Bill Gates” kind of change :)