It’s been weeks since I’ve managed to blog here – sorry, regular readers. I got caught up in a common phase of re-versioning: listening to the “no, you can’t”, “what’s the use?” voice. The defeatist voice. The one that, once you start down a new path, tells you: it can’t be done. This is too scary. Too uncertain. Where will it lead? Stop now. Don’t waste your time. Go back to the devil you know.
Never mind that your new path could lead you to a life you can’t even imagine today.
When I need stuff, I bless the Internet (I live in a small town hours from any mall). When I’m leaning to procrastination, I curse the Internet. Too easy to spend hours doing “research” and “important stuff” when I don’t have the emotional wherewithal to put fingers on a keyboard, never mind write something.
But something cool did happen during Internet avoidance, this time. I learned about a man – a walking man – whose self-talk many of us would have ignored, or laughed at, or seen a psychiatrist about.
His name is John Francis. In 1971, he protested a Bay Area oil spill by refusing to ride in cars – ever. The resulting arguments with his friends about whether this action or any one person’s actions could make any difference at all inspired another wild idea. He would stop talking. He would shut up for a while and stop his outer voice until he could figure out what was what. He ended up NOT riding in vehicles for 22 years and NOT talking for 17 years while he figured himself out, walked (literally) across the country, earned a few degrees (including a PhD), taught at a couple of universities and then, finally, realized he was past the quiet man stage, started gabbing again. Good gab, this time. Ended up writing water pollution regulations for the U. S. Coast Guard. And being appointed Environmental Ambassador for the United Nations. Besides being a professor.
One person, indeed.
John Francis was ahead of his time – a walking environmentalist. And he was an expert re-versioner: taking the chance of making a commitment to an inner voice that said, “Yes, you can.”
John Francis’s journey was believing one person could make a difference, even if all he did was walk everywhere and stop talking about it. John believes that each of us has such a journey – to make a difference – within ourselves. And anyone can make a commitment to it.
So now, I’m listening to the “yes.” I’m committing to this journey – and committing to exploring my painting, my horse training, all the “other” interests I’ve always wanted to do and never made the time for.
And documenting the journey, the re-versioning, so maybe this person’s path might help others commit to the “yes” voices they haven’t been able to trust – yet.
*****
For more information on John Francis and his PlanetWalk organization, check out www.planetwalk.org.
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4 comments:
Found this at just teh right time - the beginning of a new month. The beginning of a new month or season is an awesome time to reversion. For some people, their New Year's resolutions are long forgotten. I'm learning to re-version every month. This is going to be a great month. I can see it. I can feel it. I sense new breakthroughs that will continue to enhance many aspects of my personal purpose and vision for life. Life is so designed that we have periods of newness that allow us to expand ourselves in many different ways. Every day is a new day. Every months is a new month. The new period allows us to begin afresh and put aside the happenings of the previous period.
Dear Herman,
What a great approach to Re-versioning! So many of us (including me) feel that long-term goals are the "best" way to "explore," but especially when you are exploring options, re-versioning on the efirst of every month will help you see patterns and changes as you go along -- and perhaps open you to new possibilities.
I'd suggest keeping a journal as you go through this process -- whether daily or weekly, in words or in pictures -- to help you see patterns and how you approach exploring. It may help you both find your new path, and enlighten you on the things you do that help (or hinder) your Re-versioning actions.
All of which brings to mind a James Dean quote I keep on my desk:
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
Enables both great dreams (and motivators) and great experiences -- the truth of happines.
Thanks for you post!
Laurie 2.0
It seems almost impossible to believe that staying silent can actually get people to listen. But he did it amazingly enough. It just goes to show that sometimes, it's doing the complete opposite of what is natural that gets things moving.
John Francis himself is a revolutionary thought. And I love how he started talking again. It makes me curious how much a man has to say after 17 years of silence.
Dear jen_chan,
It's funny how doing the opposite of the obvious can produce the desired results -- like speaking softly instead of yelling, or in John Francis' case, becoming altogether silent.
His inspiration to me is twofold: am I saying anything worthwhile to others? And: Believe in your dreams. One never knows what each of those actions will bring.
Have you made any changes in your actions or ideas because of his story?
Laurie
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