adream

I Have a Dream

Like Martin Luther King Jnr, and many of us living in these troubled times . . . I have a dream.

It’s a dream of a future that we can look forward to with hope and faith.
It’s a dream of living in harmony with each other, regardless of colour, creed or culture.
It’s a dream of coming together in the name of friendship, caring and goodwill.
It’s a dream of a society that is fair and honourable and benevolent to all.
It’s a dream of a peaceful and stable world.

No one could deny that we have the right to live in such a world society, one where we will be treated equally and fairly, one where we can feel nurtured and safe. Yet the problem seems to be so overwhelmingly complex, even in so-called democratic societies, that we tend to abandon any idea of becoming part of the solution to the problem because of its complexity. We have some kind of faith that a government, a group or even a person will come along and make it all better, while knowing deep within our hearts that this will probably never occur. But it makes us feel a little better and we try to get on with our lives as best we can.

What if, as the expression goes, we can’t see the forest for the trees? What if there was a simple solution, one that didn’t occur to us because we imagined the problem to be so huge?

What would it take? Not an act of parliament, not the funding of community and national projects, not high profile people telling us what to do. Not from anything outside of ourselves. The solution must come from within, an agreement we make with ourselves on behalf of all humanity. A silent acknowledgment that things can be better, and a decision that we can help to make it happen.

American poet Carl Sandburg said, “All we need to begin with is a dream that we can do better than before. All we need to have is faith, and that dream will come true. All we need to do is act, and the time for action is now.” If we decide that something is important enough to do, then we should do something about it right away - now!

And as actor Ted Danson said, “It’s not enough to have good thoughts for the world. You must get out there! It is also really important that each person realise their own worth. If you don’t think you’re good enough, how can you turn around and help save the world?”

If we are working away at a project to help save the world, and have no knowledge of any others doing the same thing, at times this may lead to a sense of hopelessness. We can wonder how one person can make any difference, and we may waver in our zeal. But if we are aware that thousands, or even millions, are also working on the same project, there is a feeling that we are an essential cog in the scheme of things.

The quest for positive world change was given a boost in 1997 at a conference in Tokyo, with the formation of the World Kindness Movement. To date 11 countries have joined (one of them being Australia), and within those 11 countries are organisations with a total of almost 3 million members. Three million people have pledged themselves to raise the level of kindness in the world, to make the world a better place to live for you, and me, and all of its inhabitants. The change is already under way, but of course the greater the number of people involved, the more quickly this change will come about. And with the 11th September terrorist attacks, and the subsequent retaliation by bombing Afghanistan, we need to achieve positive change as quickly as possible, otherwise the human race may become an endangered species.

But the question still arises, what can you do to help to create a kinder and better world? The answer is deceptively simple - by each one of us being how we wish the world to be. If you want the world to be peaceful, kind and happy, and you go about your day in a peaceful, kind and happy manner, you will be helping to bring such a world about. The same principle applies to the darker side of humanity. It is no wonder that acts of terrorism are increasing in frequency and intensity. Society is becoming more hostile and uncaring, and an extension of this is terrorism. We have our own terrorism in the form of rage - rage on the road, in aircraft, in supermarkets, in bank queues, and so on.

Now that you know what you can do, your next question might be, how?

How might you be peaceful, kind and happy, particularly if you feel your environment (or society) is hostile, selfish and miserable? I have tried to think of a more complex way of describing the answer, because the answer is so simple it might be seen as being over-simplified, and thus ignored. However, I’ve decided not to invent a ten step process, but tell it how it is. The answer is, to be continually asking yourself, am I peaceful, am I kind, am I happy (or whatever you have chosen to be). If the answer is ‘no’, smile to yourself (relaxing), take several deep, slow breaths, (more relaxing) and each time you exhale say one of your key words (peaceful, kind, happy, or whatever you have chosen). Stick ‘Post It’ notes around your home, car and office with your key words written on them, to remind you of your choice to be in control of where your life (and your health) is going. Buy a notebook and write down all the ways you can achieve whatever it is that you have chosen to be. If you have difficulty thinking of a way to achieve one of your key words, send a message to keyword@kindness.com.au, or write to The Australian Kindness Movement at PO Box 271, Milsons Point NSW 2061, enclosing a stamped, self addressed envelope, and we will scratch our heads and come up with something to help you. We offer to do this because it lets you know that you have support in your decision to help yourself and humanity.

If you must tell someone of your plans, confide in a sympathetic friend, someone who won’t make negative remarks about your project. Such remarks can sow seeds of doubt in your mind.

No, you won’t change overnight, but once the process becomes habitual (3-4 weeks) you will be on automatic pilot. Remember how it was when you were learning to drive? There were a number of things you had to be conscious of until they became habitual. But you handled all that because you really wanted to drive a car. If you really want to help create a more kinder and friendly world, you will succeed! Just think, if you can succeed at this simple game, you can use it again and again to achieve anything you desire.

As you work on your world project, bear in mind that you are not only working as an agent for positive change. You are acting as a role model, an example for others to follow. As people work on their dream all around the world, those 3 million will soon transform into 6 million, because of the example they are setting for others. The number will continue to grow until one day soon it will come to pass that our world has changed forever. Not the way it changed after the terrorist attack, but as a result of the quiet revolution of loving kindness that we have helped to bring about.

In closing, may I remind you of the words of Eleanor Rosevelt, as they could have been written with our quest in mind: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

© The Australian Kindness Movement