A rant about change and optimism. 

This is not the best of times right now. For many it is the worst of times. I am grateful that the majority of the American people woke up and started to take back control of our country last November. When I think of the alternative,  President John McCain,  I know if he was elected I would be enveloped in a miasma of hopelessness, despair and desperation. Because nothing would have changed, we'd be stuck exactly where we have been for the most of the last 30 years. And thing would be worse, much worse than they are right now.

This is a scary time for many of us. There is uncertainty and there is ambiguity. Change is coming for all us. For many, this change is perceived as worse than what we have.

I am wired differently from many of you. You've probably picked up on that from some of my posts that you've read. Or from my profile and my profession. I like change. I see where change succeeds. I see where change has made a positive difference in people's lives. Actually, we all have. Some changes are less visible than others and we don't see any effect until an unforseen event happens.

When I got my driver's license in 1971, cars didn't have airbags or anti-lock brakes. An airbag prevented me from having a serious injury 8 years ago. That change was good.

It might be hard for some of you to imagine a time when families only had one telephone. A land line, with a rotary dial. If you were calling and no one was home, the phone would ring and ring and ring. Or you might call and get a busy signal, which meant that someone was home and they were talking on the phone, and you'd have to call back later.

Well, answering machines, and call waiting, and cell phones made their way into our homes and on our persons.

There was a best selling book when I was in high school, called Future Shock written by a guy named Toffler. He wrote that in the future everyone would have a computer in their homes. I thought when I read this why would I want a computer? I just want a really good turntable, pre-amp, amp, tuner and speakers for my LPs.

While I still don't own an mp3 player, I see value in them. I'm just waiting for the price to come down.

Ok, so I hope you can appreciate that change is good. Now, why am I so optimistic about the future?

The United States has been really, really good at responding to a crisis.   The mobilization of the country in World War II, the space race in the 1960s to get a man on the moon before 1970 are a couple of good examples. When we focus and have a sense of purpose and commitment, we can change and we can succeed.

With the exception of some political leaders and media pundits, it's clear to the rest of us that we're in a crisis right now. Who knows what our world will look like in 10 years? The pace of change is greater than time in our existence on this planet. We can reverse the poor decisions that have been made, and begin to move down a path that will get us where we need to be.  I have confidence in everyone who posts at OS, even folks who I disagree with, because there are good people in this virtual community. Our real community is not much different than the virtual one here. Because I read your stories, about the real people in your lives that make difference. I read your words, hear your voices, admire and respect your talent and intellect. I know I am not alone.

I'm also 53 years old. I'm not quite read to cash in my chips.  Actually as a result of the recent economic collapse, I have no chips to cash in.

I need to get some chips, maybe some dip, too. I have another 50 or so years I'd like to live. That living starts right now. It won't be easy and it probably will require sacrifice and hard work. I can't afford to be anything but optimistic. People are depending on me to help them work through change.  Anyone care to join me?