The We Are the World blog Link was about a conflict between the Board of Directors and the residents, current front page news in the condo where I live. It gives me comfort to know that our problems pale in comparison to others. I’m told that in Florida there is barely a day that goes by without a news article outlining the ugly details of lawsuits between condo boards and residents. Heaven forbid we ever come close to such an extreme. Not on my watch.
A friend in our building who regularly reads Voices suggested that my kumbaya approach to problem solving is all very nice, but it doesn’t fix anything. Perhaps so. It is true that many blogs of the past few months end with kumbaya, the plea for unity, harmony, and peace in the world. There’s nothing wrong with a little kumbaya here and there. It’s good for the soul.
But she does have a point. How do we build a bridge from the idyllic dream of utopia across the broad expanse of disharmony and discontent to the safety on the other side? How do we move from kumbaya into practicality? I don’t have a clue what the experts might say—if in fact there are any—but in my world, it begins with an open mind, willingness, desire, and intention. Anything less and the bridge will be nothing more than a failed attempt ending in collapse. Everything begins in the mind first and becomes manifest through action taken out of imagination. The first step is to approach the problem with the intention of finding a solution, a sincere willingness to address it head on with an open mind, and a true desire to create an outcome that satisfies all parties involved. Kumbaya.
How many times have I chosen to launch into my ostrich act and stick my head in the sand rather than to a face a difficult problem? All too often. Where does it get me? Deeper in the sand. It takes great courage to muster up the inner gumption to look fear in the eye and take a risk. But courage is the foundation, and communication is the superstructure that will build the bridge that takes us safely across the chasm to the other side, where unity, harmony, and peace await in the idyllic land of utopia. Or Camelot. Your choice. You dream it, you intend it, you decide where you want to live. It’s all in the attitude.
So my friends, neighbors, and fellow travelers on the pathway of life, I bid you well. I pray you dream happy dreams of life as the way you would like it to be, I pray that when you are ready, you will effortlessly and easily manifest a life of your choosing. If we all work together, we can build the bridge and reach the safety of the other side. Kumbaya.
Note: The photo above is courtesy of New Waves of Light, a website designed by anonymous individuals around the world who share the intention of bringing light and love to a world of darkness and chaos. (newwavesoflight.org or NWOL.us).