I stumbled across an old African proverb in a news story I read earlier today...
Occasionally we read something that resonates quite deeply with us. This happened to me even though the it was just a few incredibly simple words but the profound nature contained within resonated massively and speaks to the values at my very core immensely.
I am paraphrasing the proverb but I think I remembered it correctly...
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
See what I mean, simple, right? But do you doubt the immense power behind that sentiment? I for one have long been utterly convinced that any group is far greater than the sum of it's parts. When we come together we have a unique capacity to create a centre of incredibly powerful energy that fosters creativity, provocative thought and promotes great things.
Take the work place, the family or indeed this community, shared goals, collaborative spirit and a joint effort create greatness. If we go it alone, we can appear to the outsider looking in as if the rise we are making is meteoric. When we do this here for instance, the second we stop posting and reaping the rewards from such, what have we actually built? Nothing. Oh certainly we have a few pieces of content created on the blockchain for posterity.
Funny thing though, no-one ever says what happened to so-and-so, because no-one really misses them.
When you engage and respond to the thoughtful people who come and share their thoughts about what you have created, the ideas you have raised, a connection is formed. You can view it through the potentail of a seedling, with nourishment, nurturing and care it will thrive, reach for the light and achieve it's whole potential.
Ignored and left in the dark, make no bones about it... It will die!!!
I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that human beings are the only species on the planet that do not reach their full potential.
How tall will a tree grow, as tall as it possibly can. How hard will the wind blow, as hard as the conditions available allow. Trust me when I tell you that the cheetah did not earn the title of fastest land mammal on the planet by deciding to run as fast as he or she could be bothered today, nope, no way. That is just not how they are wired, they top out at the maximum velocity they can achieve (some 75 MPH) and constantly test that limit.
We humans have been born pretty close to the top of the food-chain. Some would argue we are an apex predator. In some ways we most certainly are, we are by far the most destructive, brutal genocidal species ever to exist. However pit a man against a lion in combat and you will likely see another side of that particular viewpoint.
As a result of these factors we have the luxury of choice in exactly what we do with our time, talents and life. We have a sophisticated method of reasoning that allows us to decide what is important and adds to the vale of each passing moment.
We can choose literally any course of action, any frivolous or worthy pursuit to apportion our precious limited time to, in many ways it is heartening to have this freedom of choice. Would any of us disagree that so much of that finite resource is squandered on endeavors that we wish we had avoided afterwards?
I'm not simply talking about material attributes we could have earned or had but spiritual, altruistic and betterment ideas we could have single-handedly brought to fruition, had we prioritised personal growth more.
We are not robots, it is true there would be little reward in constantly pursuing progress and growth without ever taking a moment to admire the beauty of a sunset or spend time with friends or loved ones. I am sure there is a perfect equation for assessing such matters, but alas that will need to fall in to the remit of a better man than me.
However there is another way, a better way...
What if by way of compromise we utilised the words of that old African proverb?
Instead of making a commitment to put on our track shoes and run with such projects and hit goal after goal after goal, we look to the wings, to the people most likely to cheer us on and formulate a plan?
What if we embarked on a spirit of collaboration, support and shared values? How might that look?
I come up with an idea to feed 50 hungry families once a year, maybe at a time of celebration when want is felt a little more keenly. The thing is though, I KNOW I am thinking small and I could go bigger, much bigger. My mind wanders to larger numbers adds zero's runs mental calculations and I settle on a number... Pick your own, the size of the digits is irrelevant but the sentiment and method is everything.
I realise it will cost me more in terms of time and money but I decide the spiritual payoff will be HUGE and oh-so-worth-it. In the back of my mind though something niggles at me, the fact I could go much bigger and with less stress and the need to work less overtime at work and be away from my family more... I cannot quite pin down this pricking sensation in my mind though...
The next morning as I awake I feel something akin to a zap of lightning in my mind and it hits me... I'VE GOT IT!
A collaborative effort! I realise I know enough people who would absolutely adore the chance to be involved in such a project and would get a thrill out of coming together in such a spirited effort for something good.
Some will be able to donate an occasional hour only, some 5 or 6 hours per week, others will put in a lot of time. Some people will be happy to make a financial donation to swell the coffers too, some will be unable but again are happy to help or donate a few food items. Some are organisers, some like to be led, some have run projects before professionally, some have extensive contacts, maybe one or two have chef experience...
A brainstorming session brings up masses of amazing ideas, the many people taking part streamline them, work out the untenable ones and strategize of just how we can bring some of our ideas to life. Teams within the team are formed, one team contacts media, one contacts charities, one contacts suppliers, retailers, grocery associations and overstock specialists.
Suddenly we find ourselves in to being in a position to provide food for a LOT of people!
The key thing is that this simple idea was turned into a mammoth effort utilising a diverse range of skills from a diverse range of people with all manner of experience from every walk of life.
No one person was left to burn themselves out with all the aspects of organisation required, no one person shoulders a huge burden. Occasionally team members will be more or less active due to things that happen in their life, someone is always available to take on some of their work.
The guy on the team who is a computer programmer probably knows little about planning of or cooking to scale for hundreds of people but is a whizz with promotional graphics and fliers to raise awareness which is a skill beyond the realm of a retired nurse who makes tea and coffee for the team or the accountant who makes sure the numbers add up.
People are strange, amazing, sinister, beautiful, empathetic, apathetic and everything in-between but when they come together they are capable of sheer bloody magic! When enough of them work together the range of skills at hand is akin to a jigsaw that finishes itself.
The people who surround us everyday, everywhere we go are often an untapped resource who would be only to happy to assist eachother given half a chance. I have learned so, so many times in life that often the bitter, seemingly antisocial terse person who you thought you knew implicitly for the last 20 years has an infinite capacity to surprise you with the warmth and depth of spirit that resides deep within.
Allow them the chance to set it free when the occasion arises and everybody wins!
If you know me, you will know how I finish all of my posts, with a simple banner, with some simple words, I hope that today those 4 words resonate a little deeper for a little longer because I believe in them with all of my heart. The longer you know me on the blockchain and the more I am able to implement some of my simple plans this will become more and more apparent.
Thank YOU for taking the time to read my post and if you're one of those amazing people who like to hit the comments section... Then I doubly thank YOU!
Either way I want you to know that you are appreciated!
