by Robert Silverstone

As this new day dawns, bringing with it the promise of change for us all, I am struck by a deep rooted sense of responsibility.  We have elected a dramatically new leader, one who has the potential to lead, not just the USA, but the rest of the free world in a direction more suited to the 21st century, into the future that our children and their children will inherit.  We have the potential to put behind us the archaic ways of the past and deliver a new, more conscious promise that is our future.  One man has been chosen  and his responsibility is unquestionably mighty.  But, we all  have a responsibility here.  It is not up to President-Elect Obama to lead the change alone.  It is up to every one of us, male, female, black, white, young, old, liberal or conservative to take the responsibility for doing our part in initiating such change.  

So the questions are, what changes are you willing to make?  What part will you play?  What behaviors and attitudes of yours will be different in the future?  The time to answer those questions is now.  The change begins today, not January 20, 2009!  Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  If you’re not clear what kind of changes you might consider, here are some ideas to play with:

1. Watch our words.  The words we use are powerful and there has been too much negativity and ‘mud-slinging’ during this campaign.  Perhaps the time has come to cease negativity, criticism, blame and judgment, and replace it with positivity, seeing what is good and working well.  To stop finding fault and offer positive suggestions for improvement instead.  What do you want to change?

2. We are one.  Perhaps the time has come to start speaking inclusively, rather than  divisively.  There have been opportunities in the past when the world has united with a common vision.  The turn of the millennium and 9/11 were such opportunities.  They were squandered.  This is the third opportunity in this century to unite as one people with a common vision for a better world.  Rather than separatist talk of us versus them, perhaps now is the time for the inclusive conversation of ‘we’ and ‘our’.   What do you want to change?

3. Take responsibility.  How we behave, how we communicate is an example to our children, friends, family, clients, employers and employees.   Many of our past and current leaders in government and business have behaved irresponsibly, with greed, ego and fear being their motivators.  We are all leaders in many ways.  Perhaps now is the time to demonstrate our respect, integrity and responsible management of power.  What do you want to change?

4. Get involved.  Perhaps now is the time to devote some of our time or money to help make a difference to the less fortunate.  Whether it’s an hour a week or a few dollars a month invested in the community, with children, with the elderly, with the poor, the homeless, or in support of countless  non-profit organizations, the opportunities exist to get involved are there.  What do you want to change?

Together, we  can not only witness and be the recipients of the changes we want to see, we can also be the architects.  What do you want to change?  Now is the time!