CHANGE: A Life Constant - Let's Embrace It!

There are only two things certain in life:  death and taxes.  This well-known phrase, which originated from a letter Ben Franklin wrote to a friend about the U.S. Constitution, left out a third powerful certainty:  CHANGE.  While we may still experience the death process, CHANGES in our societal structure could eliminate taxes, at least in the familiar format.

With accelerated CHANGE in motion, many are experiencing anxiety, whether latent or expressed, about the inevitable shifts underway in the current financial, economic and societal structures. Foundations taught to past generations on how to thrive no longer apply or are deeply uprooted.  An anxiety ridden society is not a thriving, enriched society.

"Thriving" is taking on new dimensions that go well beyond the material world.  Once the physical survival requirements (food, shelter, clothing) are met, thriving in the changing paradigm requires nurturing our spirit.  Inherent in nurturing the spirit lies dismantling of the relatively recent "I" societal focus and renewing the "We" focus.  Rebuilding the community spirit from prior generations is one bridge to opening the gateways to a collective community working in unison for the benefit of ALL.


The forgotten COMMONS are a path to opening our hearts and seeing the world through an enlightened perception lens.  How surreal that we forgot the COMMONS, all that we share as a civilization!  

Jay Walljasper wrote a fantastic re-introduction to the COMMONS basics with his book, ALL THAT WE SHARE, A Field Guide to the Commons.  While reading his profound, easy to comprehend copy, it was a bit embarrassing to have " A Ha" moments with concepts that were inherent within human civilizations until a century or so ago.

It took a re-connection moment to realize that Commoners from earlier civilizations lived from the common land, in later centuries owned by the kingdom.  In ALL THAT WE SHARE, Robert F. Kennedy contributed an excellent essay on the Riverkeepers' birthing.  It was heartening to learn how Kennedy worked within the legal system to protect and clean the Hudson River so the Commoners could retain their ancestral livelihoods dependent upon a healthy river eco-system. Funds from the successful lawsuits were used to establish the Riverkeeper system.


COMMONS go well beyond economic survival and are imperative to our spiritual health.  National forests and parks are excellent examples of common land available for all to enjoy.  Closer to home. city and neighborhood parks are a phenomenal opportunity to interact with nature and meet neighbors from every walk of life.  Many cities have an abundance of wildlife, especially in the original neighborhoods built around, versus over, natural stream systems.  

Grandma teaching kids about the
COMMONS playground

The Ei FB album, Celebrate the COMMONS, gives a pictorial calling to spend time in the COMMONS, beginning with urban parks.  Most communities have hidden, under-used treasures that are ready, willing and able to serve as the foundation for community congregation.


Local farmers markets are another COMMONS asset available in most communities. A simple on-line search will find a local market filled with scrumptious produce and original products as well as a venue to commune with neighbors,whether known for years or new to the area.

Riverview Farms @ local market

This blog post is introductory in nature and serves as a platform to explore how the human evolution spiral unfolds.  It is an amazing and challenging time as we experience the CHANGES inherent within evolution.


Several key words for thriving in the new paradigm:  open hearts, collaboration, collective community, ALL, the COMMONS.  Stay tuned as the exploration is launched!