And Nothing Fell From the Sky

By Walt F.J. Goodridge

Special to the Saipan Tribune
Originally published: Wednesday, August 15, 2007


The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!

If you are committed to saving the world; if you are committed to helping others to the best of your ability; if you are devoted to the welfare of others; if you are intent on preserving the beauty of the planet for future generations; if you are dedicated to justice for all regardless of race or affiliation; if you are about honoring the human spirit; if you are in favor of human rights for the planet’s people; if you are polarized towards service to other selves, then...

...as you grow in this awareness, and move in the direction of that commitment, you will find yourself falling in step with the beliefs of the great thinkers of past and present. You will find yourself mirroring the thoughts and actions of the great leaders, activists of past and present generations. If you write, you will find that your words are hauntingly similar to words you have read. If you speak, you will find that your speeches reflect the same passion, purpose and power of great orators. If you paint, you will find your brush being guided by the same force that seems to have guided the hands of artists of bygone days whose work stands as testament to their divine connection to soul stirring beauty.

You will find that you are guided to certain books, attracted into certain organizations, drawn to certain causes and that people of similar mind and method will appear in your life, and you will find your niche and your calling.

As you explore how to make things better, you will realize that there are certain issues that appear to represent the failing of our society to address our basic needs, feed the hungry, educate the youth, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and you may feel overwhelmed that there is so much in apparent need of fixing.

When you are gripped by the overwhelming feeling that attends such a noble commitment to betterment in all its forms, you need only quiet your mind and listen to your passion. It is your passion that will guide you toward the fullest manifestation of the unique gifts which you came to express, and the unique challenges you came here to meet. It is your passion that will guide you to where you need to be. It is your passion that will attract allies in the struggle, and companions on your path.

As you share your vision of change with these allies, you will find as well that the power for the change you envision resides in the combined efforts of like minds.

Such is my synopsis of what I see from where I stand.

FROM WHERE I STAND

From where I stand, I see the evidence of passion in action on this little island that promises to reshape, redefine and reenergize the Marianas. In the interest of survival, of prosperity and of a shared vision of a desired future, the people of the Marianas are uniting to create change.

Bloggers, beautifiers, divers, and alternative energy supporters, are creating coalitions, establishing websites, launching blogs, forming alliances, and developing communities that, fueled by their individual and group passions, are creating the changes they wish to see.

No longer content to finding flaws and asking why, these people are finding cause and asking why not?

They are mining, tapping and harnessing resources that are free, passion that is infinite, commitment that is ever-renewable, vision that is ageless, and human assets all in an effort to implement ideas that exist in abundance, using technologies that are readily available.

A SIMPLE BUSINESS PLAN


All of this activity represents opportunity. There promises to be many passion-centered businesses that will be spawned as a result of these groups' efforts which will empower people in ways beyond even their wildest imaginations if they are brave enough to change the business paradigm. In the words of David Cameron:

"Even more magnificence will come our way when we start building businesses that deliberately are designed to give rather than receive. Businesses designed to cause first that other people get wealthy. Future businesses will be designed to cause growth that is true growth and not growth with serious side effects somewhere else. These businesses will cause elevation of populations from a lower standard of living to a higher one, and elevations in their consciousness and well-being. The more you cause others to have in wealth, the more you will have in wealth, effortlessly."

The opportunity for such a paradigm of business, exists here for us right now.

THE FUTURE

I predict that these groups will grow, and their numbers will swell. The turnout will amaze and inspire, the momentum will increase, the support from other corners will increase exponentially, and the groups shall be recognized not as individual or random in their efforts, but as part of an actual movement. And one day soon, we shall be able to tell a unique story of change.

And when that story is told of how this thing came to be born, how it took wing and how it flew, one thing, above all will mark this movement as a divine idea whose time had come. There will be one distinguishing feature, unique to all the great movements of change that harness passion, people power, and intention, and it is this:

Everything we needed was always here.

Yes, when this story of the change is recounted on that day in the future, it will be with the profound realization, that shall ring in the hearts of those who tell it, be transmitted as a moral to those who hear it, and made immortal as a way of thought in the telling.

It shall be a story of a change that was made real by average folks who envisioned a change, sparked the change, led the change, documented the change for the benefit of all...

...and nothing fell from the sky.

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: As heard on Harry Blalock's Island Issues program, you’ll see all this in action tonight at 6:30pm at THE SECOND brainstorming session at Oleai Beach Bar and Grille, as passionate residents figure out ways to use the tools that are freely available on the Internet to creatively market our oceans and other assets to promote tourism and business in the Marianas! All are invited to attend. Bring your vision!

(And visit www.marianasdive.com to see the beginnings online)

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Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!

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