21 Areas to Change in 2021
Change in these 21 Areas in 2021
“People are our proper occupation,” Marcus Aurelius said. Our job is to do them good and put up with them.”
Let’s make 2021 the year of the change in these 21 Areas.
Get Vaccinated-The number one thing we can do to fight the Pandemic is to get vaccinated. Dr. Fauci said we needed to have 90% of us vaccinated before we can say it’s over and start a new normal. The sooner the better. Take your turn when it comes, there is no advantage to jumping to the front of the line- we all need it.
Stop letting our emotions rule our lives- I remember so well hearing my children come and say she hurt my feelings. It is time to stop being ruled by our feelings and start being more thoughtful.
Treat all people with respect- All people deserve our respect for being human beings. No One is better than another. We have to return to politeness and respect for all.
Accept diversity- We built this country on diversity. Accept and embrace it. It will widen your views, give you new ideas, and make you understand the world better.
Help find the solution-We have many problems: equality, justice, voting rights, health, education, and welfare, to name a few. We need solutions to move forward and improve each of these areas. Share your ideas. You never know when your idea will be exactly right or simply spark another idea.
Quit Being part of the problem- Being part of the problem means we have to open our eyes and see the needs of others and demand solutions. Problems exist, but we need to become the solution.
Demand more from Congress- Congress needs to know that we want more from them than party-line votes. We want to see the best laws to help all the people. It was a disgrace that the second relief bill took so long to pass.
Write to Congress regularly. Our national representatives need to hear from us regularly. We are the people, not the lobbyists. So we must speak up. I know it seems pointless because I only have one voice, but it matters. Write them, email them, or call them regularly and it will surprise you how effective you will become.
Support your Government.-We live in a democracy, which means some of us didn’t vote for those in office, but we have to respect the process and support those who won. We don’t have to always agree with them, but “we the people” elected them. Don’t tear down the government, make it better.
Stop name-calling- Name-calling and labeling people negatively does not reflect the truth. It is a diversion from thoughtful engagement. I mean it to cause an emotional, no-thinking response. 2021 is the time to refrain from name-calling and rebuild our society as a people of togetherness embracing our diversity.
Stop tearing people down, build them up-We gain nothing by tearing others down. It was never a way to be successful in the work environment, and it not the way to build a successful society.
Help your neighbor-We have forgotten we are all neighbors. We have become little isolated islands. That will not work as the future continues to be a challenge. We need to become neighbors again. Aware of each other. Concerned about each other. Remember the old saying “it takes a village” and be a part of your neighborhood.
Lives matter-Every life matters-black, brown, white, all lives contribute. We have to find a solution to the indiscriminate shooting of all people.
Learn how to disagree with the idea- Don’t be afraid of ideas that differ from your own. Question them and try to understand them. Find the common ground.
Don’t be offended-It is time to stop letting our emotions control our response. Be thoughtful, think before you respond. Before you feel hurt, ask questions to clarify what they meant.
Consider the consequences-Everything we do has consequences. Not just what we expect but tiers of consequences, many of them unintended. Think about what you expect to happen and then think about the unexpected.
Embrace change-You will be comfortable if you do. 2021 is going to be the year of gradual change. Our work, our leisure activities, our relationships will all be changing in 2021 and not as we envisioned. Be flexible and resilient.
Be an example-Many of us see injustice and just walk on by. It is time to stop and speak out. Let’s weed out injustice in 2021.
Accept Facts-We have to quit ignoring the facts just because we don’t like the effects on our lives. The pandemic is real. Climate change is actual.
Consider the Ideas of others-You aren’t the only one who has good ideas. Examine the ideas of others and accept the good ones.
Believe in Democracy-As we look around the world at other kinds of governments, we should support Democracy. It needs improvement, without a doubt, because we have a long way to go to get it right. But it is the best we have.
“Don’t ever forget that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world, it’s the only thing that ever has.”- Aaron Sorkin
“Believe nothing, O monks, merely because you have been told it… or because is it traditional, or because you yourselves have imagined it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But, whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings–that doctrine believes and cling to and take it as your guide.”– Buddha
