Changing/Improving the World
After setting up this blog and writing a quick introductory post, you may have noticed my blog as being the “silent type”. While I write daily, I have not been able to come up with anything "perfect" to say that might "change the world". But, this week I have decided that instead of waiting for an elusive version of perfection, I will just do my best as I blog for Fun Moms.
When I was at the American Mothers, Inc. conference in Nebraska, Mary Pipher was a dinner speaker. Her most well-known book is the #1 New York Times Bestseller Reviving Ophelia and, after I heard her speech, I bought her book Writing to Change the World; the title caught my attention. Pipher shares lots of wisdom in her book and I continue to believe that if all of us keep speaking and writing words of encouragement & thoughtful pondering, the world is likely to improve peacefully - just as calm streams beautifully create rock scuptures as they meander through nature.
After setting up this blog and writing a quick introductory post, you may have noticed my blog as being the “silent type”. While I write daily, I have not been able to come up with anything "perfect" to say that might "change the world". But, this week I have decided that instead of waiting for an elusive version of perfection, I will just do my best as I blog for Fun Moms.
When I was at the American Mothers, Inc. conference in Nebraska, Mary Pipher was a dinner speaker. Her most well-known book is the #1 New York Times Bestseller Reviving Ophelia and, after I heard her speech, I bought her book Writing to Change the World; the title caught my attention. Pipher shares lots of wisdom in her book and I continue to believe that if all of us keep speaking and writing words of encouragement & thoughtful pondering, the world is likely to improve peacefully - just as calm streams beautifully create rock scuptures as they meander through nature.
One common obstacle to positive social change, or improving the world, is “us-them” thinking. If we can increase “we” thinking and begin with what we have in common, we are more likely to enjoy the contributions of diversity to society and we are also more likely to influence the thinking of others. It is my opinion that reducing “us-them” thinking is often the right thing to do as well as the smart thing to do. For example, if a group of moms begins with “are you a working mom or a stay-at-home mom?”, they are likely to get into a better-worse, easy-hard or right-wrong debate (e.g. “us-them” thinking). If moms share their hopes, ideas and specific challenges they face, moms have the opportunity to realize we have a lot in common. As moms step away from the “mommy war” topics and “us-them” thinking, moms may realize that the woman standing next to us is a potential ally in motherhood ... maybe even a new friend and ally in improving the world.
Reflective Questions for Today:
1) How do you feel about and/or what do you think of the word/concept "perfection"?
2) Using the stream and rock metaphor made me think of hiking Oak Creek (picture above). The cooler temperatures and creek water of Sedona are an easy daytrip from the Valley of the Sun! Where would you like to take your family for an affordable & near-by summer escape? http://www.funmoms.biz/
3) Regardless of differences, moms have a lot in common with each other; moms around us may need our help or be able to help us (reduce “us-them” thinking because “we’re all in this together”). How can we improve our "we" thinking? Who can you reach out to as you broaden your definition of "we"?
4) Writing to Change the World was a great book. If you are a writer or aspiring writer of social change topics, I recommend it! Which social issues would you like to influence?
5) My mother highly recommends Reviving Ophelia to any moms of girls. Which books would you like to read for wisdom on parenting?
6) If we express encouragement & thoughtful pondering (e.g. critical thinking, better questions, reflection), I believe that we are making the world a better place. What words of encouragement or topics of reflection would help your family? How might you improve the world just through positive daily interactions with the people you see/meet in your daily life?
Changing/Improving the World - we do it everyday ... we're Moms !
