Thanks, Sandra, for the input.
Sandra wrote:
> I've found that I am never "just doing it" in isolation. A lot of people
> are watching me do it. I rarely talk about what I am doing, and never
> attempt to proselytize. I do talk about what I am doing and what I believe
> when asked to. I know for certain that I have inspired change in quite a
> few people's lives by "just doing". It is not the grand scale of change
> that will save the world next week, but it is a lot more than when I used
> to try to make changes in others.
Would you put books in the category of "I do talk about what I am doing and
what I believe when asked to"? By "trying to influence people" I do not
necessarily mean proselytizing; I agree that it has little positive effect.
But I know that I have been influenced by many people, including you and
others on this list. Books and a few seminars have also been major
influences in my life. Most, but not all, were things I chose to look into.
I ask mainly because I am trying to work through ideas about what methods
best create change in society. I guess I am interested in "the grand scale
of change that will save the world next week", or at least before things
get really ugly. I'd be interested to hear from you, and different people,
about what kinds of things have been an influence for you. It seems that
most people on this list (in my life?) are more doers; while I guess I'm
more of a thinker / talker. I do a lot more than I let on, but I guess I
enjoy the thinking part more. If I came to the conclusion that the balance
should be more toward doing, I think that I would change. I'd like to be a
part of the solution more than I want to satisfy my personal pleasures. Of
course, being able to do both is even better.
Eric:
