How many years have you taken out a piece of paper and made a list of resolutions for the new year or created affirmations to change your life. As this new year is about to begin a have a sense of much ending and much beginning--a sense I cannot remember any other year of new beginnings... clearly the end of some cycle and the beginning of new ones. For me this will mean moving and life changes... maybe it is just the sense that I have entered into the second half of my living century in the past few weeks. Maybe 50 is a new beginning? 

With this sense of new beginning I feel a sense of clear continuity with a new perspective. I talk a lot about taking responsibility for change, for our lives and for the greater whole. But, what does that mean in real life terms? I began to ask myself that yesterday after seeing the movie: An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. The realities of Global are becoming clearer each day. As I sat and watched the movie I wondered truly how I can make a difference. Do I offer community development workshops--large Future Searches around this issue? That didn't click--it felt too far away. So, what can I do? The answer was not forthcoming. At the end of the movie  Al Gore listed things people could do to change our current trend and change it quickly...like using renewable batteries and cleaner power. The suggestions were good and would make a difference, but somehow I felt a strange connection to my new year's resolutions of the past... they simply were too big for me to do right now.  The polar ice caps will melt in less in less than 40 years if we don't change the way we live and yet, I couldn't anchor on way to begin to make a difference NOW. What can I incorporate into my life, what can I commit to...what would be Credible for me  (as Stephen M.R. Covey talks about in the The Speed of Trust,)  and enable me to take action. Seeing the big picture is one of my strengths, but action need to anchor in something I can latch onto to--the howit will be realized... the what can I do starting now?

So what can I do? I can start using renewable batteries, not only buying them, but buying a couple of charges so it is convenient to do. I can lower the heat in our house and only head the rooms that need it--cuddling up in blankets is wonderful while I type, too...; I can pay attention to what I am buying and if I will use or store; use plastic containers, rather than Plastic Wraps, oiling/flouring  backing sheets and skipping the baking paper, reusing plastic bags.  I can simply use less and make less waste. ... incorporating the reduction of waste  and reducing the output of added heat in the world into my conscious thinking and the perspective from which I make choices. Taking this perspective alone will enable small steps.
I honestly don't know what else I can do. Yet, I am confident that if I clearly state my intention for this day forward to actively participate in cooling our atmosphere, reducing global warming... if I start with this intent and search for ways a small enough for me to incorporate into my life now
So what does this have to do with New Year's resolutions? Instead of resolving to do I am asking that you choose intensions that resonate with you and allow this intention or intentions to guide your actions.... What is important to you? What filter do you want to look at the world through from today on.... Taking just a few moments to explore an intention and then "try it on" to see what emerges... You may find that you have to modify it, change it  or create a new one.... discovering the right intention for you. Then note how appropriate actions will follow you intention.....
"A single intention, followed by conscious action can change the world!"  ...just like in the movie PLAY IT FORWARD.
 
How many times in your life can look back at and see where you may have taken action that others followed and in turn played it forward?  What would you like to intend now? What actions come to mind to support your intention that you can do now?  ...Can plan to take in the future?

The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey with Rebecca R. Merrill

Play it Forward
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

It's the season of change.... As stress rises, tension, conflict or heaven forbid.... Overwhelm... . rises.... Take a just moment and ask yourself:
What is my intention here? State a clear intention or outcome that you would like at this moment and then take action...  It is simple, yet often quite effective for diffusing the negative and replacing it with joy...
Eat what you enjoy in starting small. Laugh when you can. Smile when possible. Be open to the spirit of moment. ... and watch the miracles of life unfold.....

Memories come back easily this time of year... I had been very tired...too many changes as I struggled with near-blindness after two surgeries and began to return to health. My sight was changing all the time it seemed. I was learning to do normal tasks differently, needing glasses, then new ones, seeing the world around more and paying attention in a new way...
My son's vision seemed to increase in focus while mine was askew. I focused inward and on our small family and close friends, he noticed a larger world.
We were off to some  "important" meeting, when he noticed a homeless man sitting on the street with his dog. He asked about homelessness--not a usual site in Berlin where  the social system is strong enough to support most of  those who want help. We talked about the man for a few minutes. I don't remember saying anything special to be honest. Then the conversation moved on to other things. After our meeting we went to lunch not far from where the homeless man sat. My son went over to talk to him with is usual (I'll be right back...)Then came back and asked for 10 Euro to  buy lunch. Instead of buying lunch for himself, he bought lunch for the man and for his dog. My son was 8 at the time. I asked him why he chose to do that. He said that he felt if the man ate well, he would be able to think clearer and maybe want to continue that way. Then, he told me that he also gave the man his wallet with his savings and allowance inside (about 5 Euro)... hoping that with a wallet to keep money, he, too, would save for a better life and act with a future in mind.
As we walked past the man it seemed that something had touched him. He no longer stared at the ground, but looked up with a glint in his eye and slight raise of his lips -the beginning of a smile-- as my son walked by.

"An enterprise that is at war with itself (misaligned) will not have the strength to focus to survive and thrive in today's competitive environment." Professor John Whitney, Columbia Business School The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey with Rebecca R. Merrill "As you look for the truth... may you find great treasures under the boulders and obstacles in your path."