Change Your World, Change The World

This concise statement of personal philosophy really resonates for me. I aim to choose my reality and fill it with things of meaning for me. This is the essence of my struggle as a conscientious human.

Thanks for putting it out there so cleanly.

Great statements, Will!! Think I’ve been living according to many of these for a long time. We can’t much change the “bigger stuff”, but we sure can change our “stuff” - and try to have some influence on the rest.

I have been going through a similar process of deeper evaluaiton myself.

I like what has come out of your inquiry and hope that you continue to send me updates.

Regarding 9/11, it is similar in some ways to the JFK assasination, which we as a country have fully
recovered from on many levels.

There is a deep sadness that resides in all of us, not just for what happened that day, but also for a deep
seated feeling that something is not right with the entire event and the unflolding events from that point
forward.

From Rove/Libby/Plamegate, to Cheney shooting another man while hunting, to the Downing Street Memo, to the
continued tragedy that we know as Iraq.

Did you know that hip hop music sales are down 33% from their peak three years ago?

Is it because there are no longer any compelliing hip hop artists to sell records?

Or is it because the often violent language and imagery seems to mock the suffering and real violence that we are engaged in abroad and even in our own lives?

Keep up the good work and thanks.

It’s interesting that the simple things often can lead to great impacts on not only in our life but the world around us. I am constantly amazed by the depth of thought and search for meaning evidenced by Will Marre. His life and words give me hope for this world-our world and its future.

Thank You!

I’m sure you’re told often, as a part of your group dynamic, that “you make a difference…”

But – least that in any way become an overused, but under meant acknowledgement, please accept from me that you, and this profound pebble, have rippled out in the pond of my world and really have made a difference.

Until I saw the PBS program last year, I was frustrated with a loneliness that I was the only one who had this concept. I just didn’t know how to bring it forward. Your presentation really touched me and gave me a framework, or to continue the pond metaphor, a Lilly pad from which to jump.

So thank you…

Regarding “They are not meant to be absolute or literal statements”, it’s ok for your statements to be absolute and literal. I think it’s good. I was with you all the way until you seemed to back off. I think what you’re doing is great. Sounds like the Sunday sermons/messages I listen to. You’re on the right track. Keep it going. Stick to your guns/message/beliefs. Solomon would have been in your corner.

Just needed to tell you that I whole-heartedly identify with your core message. Driving home after 9/11, a similar realization hit me. I needed this reminder though. Thank you! Your short time away will benefit many, I’m sure!

This was great and I subscribe to the whole list, but what you are forgetting is that no matter what we do as individuals there are still parasites and leaches mostly Lawyers, Judges, Clergy, and Politian’s who make there livings off stirring the pot and creating discord where there should be none. So we need to recognize the individuals, groups, and industries that make livings off of weakening our bonds as families and change the rules so they can’t feed off the innocent. One of the best ways to do this is to get rid of community property law and make agreements of personal self worth and principles which do not need interpretation by anyone other than the dictionary! The other way is to track who and how industries prosper of the profits gained by their intrusion into our lives; then strip them of their profits until they no longer exist.

[…] read the entire post here […]

Hi Will,
I just came to comment on your post and I see that the comment above has a link to my blog post, posting about your blog post. I guess the trackback was added automatically. That’s cool.

So anyway…
I really enjoyed your post obviously. You and I think alike in a lot of ways apparently; although you have taken much larger action than I have.

I’ve been telling a lot of people about your organization but surprisingly, many don’t seem to give it much attention. I think it’s kind of what I blogged about–most people just work, watch TV, eat, and sleep and that’s the extent of their lives. The fire’s been sapped out of them by the exact things that you’re railing against.

It saddens me that many people complain about a lot of things, but they don’t think their personal actions have any effect. Your post is exactly what most people need to hear. Let’s hope that some will take action.

Keep up the good work!

Congratulations! That’s an interesting form of self-delusion, but at the end of the day that’s all it really is. Getting off the grid is a fine accomplishment, but that just a small piece of the problem. Do you still drive to work and travel on planes? Do you still go to the supermarket and buy packaged foods? Besides, if banks and various fossil fuel loving corporations want to continue building coal fired power plants or whatever, which they do, and continue pumping carbon into the atmosphere like they have been doing at an increasing rate over the last three decades, it really doesn’t matter what a few thoughtful and concerned people do anymore. Scientists have known about the dangers of putting excess carbon into the atmosphere as early as the late 19th century and has that prevented it? If you could convince millions to get off the grid and change their lifestyles that might make a difference, but how realistic is that? Not very in my humble opinion.

As long as the big boys on the block continue in this insane path toward self-destruction, there’s not a whole lot we can do and it is likely they will drag us all down with them. You see the day the oil industry (ie Standard Oil) decided to take over this country by ‘industrializing’ it, was the day we lost control of our own destinies. 9-11 is just another part of the delusion to keep the oil matrix humming along. The ‘hippies’ had it right 30 some years ago, but society as a whole including people like yourself just wrote them off as a bunch of flakes. Now its probably too late, but i do applaud you for your efforts.

Historically, Americans do not adjust well to circumstances that create an “overt” feeling of societal “powerlessness” (i.e. WWI, WWII, great depression). In reality, we are all powerless, except for personal choice. Currently, there is a overwhelming list of circumstances that have created spiked societal anxiety.

Stress can be a great lever for personal change. Current heightened anxiety can be leverage to re-focus individual anxiety from a “external locus of control” to an “internal locus of control.” The conversion of anxiety to active personal choice and positive decision-making with increase positive coping skill function, self-direction, and personal growth.

[…] to a visit to the The Occupational Adventure blog I was able to read Will Marre’s thought-provoking rumination about personal responsibility. Responsible for our own lives, our own future, the quality of our relationships, and the moral […]

I love this. What a tremendous way to initiate change, by starting in our own sphere of influence. My personal concern is the gross inequality which exists in our American communities and in the world. It boggles my mind how so many people are going without clean water, food, shelter, and education. I cannot accept the extreme class divisions in our world. Why do we worry about iphones and second homes while others need breakfast, school supplies, or basic shelter? Since this is my passion- I can begin by living simply myself and giving of what I have.

Thank you for your site.
abrafrew

I heard about this site from a professor my freshman year in college. I always feel weird reading it, like maybe people will listen to you. I’ve always wanted to be able to change things, for as long as I can remember, but over the past few years I’ve become very pessimistic about the possibilities.

I agree with everything you said above, but the part about influence spreading is bothersome. It never seems to, or at least not quickly enough. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t conserve water, or take public transit, or eat less meat, so I do all of these things, but there has to be a faster way of spreading influence than just doing what I am now; there must be some catalyst.

Thanks for your thoughts. If you see this very outdated comment, please respond to my concerns. Thank you.

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