As a lifelong cyclist I’m shocked by cyclists showing disregard for pedestrians and generally breaking the rules.
Yesterday I had a return train trip. On arrival in St Pancras passengers for the return trip up-north piled onto the train, blocking the exit.
That and the behaviour on the tube questioned whether it’s our general attitude that’s deteriorating. This article by Emily Bratt in the Observer, picked up the issue.
The choice is ours, whether it’s on an individual, organisational or societal level.
Some changes come easier then others but let’s stick with the question of — should we challenge and change?
In my view there’s an unequivocal yes.
As an individual and the networks, groups or communities we form, of course we change.
What’s learning if it’s not adopting and adapting to changing situations, and developing new ways of doing things (and thinking!).
Some people and organisations will challenge change and prefer to stick with the status quo.
When that happens, look a little deeper.
What’s their motivation not to want to change? Fear? Retaining or enhancing power?
One of the most important aspects of change is personal development, it helps create who we are.
But it’s also nonsensical to suggest there shouldn’t be change in our wider groups and society
It’s critical that we innovate and adapt, developing the requisite abilities. That might be number one priority.
Well not quite.
Our actual biggest challenge is friction, and by this I mean between people, their organisations, communities, and nations.
We need to develop effective sustainable relationships and to achieve that we need to learn to be kind.
That requires us to see things from the others’ point of view, to communicate, to connect, to be flexible and adapt.
Yes… change, constantly.
Maybe we can actually reduce violent conflict …. Now that would be cool.
So we can choose to change and not be stuck …
… in what previous generations have handed down to us
NOR
…. in our personal experiences and traumas
We can shift.
Simple eh?
Admittedly. It’s not straightforward … No it’s our life long challenge, to choose who we want to be and hopefully find happiness and contentment.
But if we’re not conscious and try we might just lose this lifelong opportunity.
There’s books I’d recommend, in Manjula’s library that help cover this.
So when we next hear someone rejecting change, said in so many ways: ‘that’s not our tradition’, ‘that’s how we do it here’, ‘it’s our culture’ we can’t, etc etc then it’s for the WPB
Ok, that might be a bit harsh, at least dive into more reflection and re-evaluation.
– Are our ways of thinking and doing fit for purpose anymore?
– Is it appropriate in this day and age?
Now that’s maybe opened a reactionary can-of-worms.
The following books are in Manjula’s library.
You might also want to check Vedanta! Perhaps recommend a book for the library.
Another update for friends in India, showing similarities and differences, same and different.
Clean. Sports Last week a music concert here for thousands. No sign of it now. Finsbury Park. people and no litter. Sleeping policemen aka road bumps Here too Portable toilet for construction workers. No other peeing in the street No builders waste in the street. All goes in the skip. Mobile cycle repair. On one back street I saw three dumped plastic bags and this sign. It a limited problem but I feel it’s cultural hence the different languages. Dog poo is also picked upWe’re taught this as young children. It’s reinforced by parents, at school, on the TV. Different Bicycles Bikes And peopleGorillas pop up everywhere. I’m here with my sons oliver in the middle and Ben on the right.
Willian, from Brazil, got wet taking Ganesh to the river, dismantled all our Mycycle cycles for respraying, rebuilt them and set up our base on Srirangaptnam.
Dani and Chas, from the UK, decorated, provided general help and support of Manjula at a very difficult but important time.
Thank you guys, you all did a fantastic job, and it was a pleasure getting to know you.
We’ve not hosted workawayers for the past two years but now we’ve officially reopened with the arrival of one of our longest staying guests: Ina, we’re open to possibilities.
They’re all very different, which is part of the wonder that is workaway, and we all learn a lot
Our next arrives this week.
Eva is also multi-talented, (such a long list) a Spanish woman, who has lived in the USA so I’ll have to watch my stupid English humour. I’ve already created a list of possibles including teacher, chaperone, and all round good egg. I hope I haven’t scared her off already.
our great friend Brian and his wife Leverney travelled down from Yorkshire for the day to treat us to High Tea at the British Museum followed by a look at the Exhibition: Krishna in the Garden of Assam (and in passing: one or two mummies taken into protective custody by the British Establishment)
The exhibition is well worth a visit and of course there is much much more to see at this wonderful institution.
As Brian and Leverney are two of the very few people I’ve actually met who voted for BREXIT we just had to cover politics over a couple of pints of beer. The conversation about the UKAOS (as I’ve started calling it) to leave the EU was illuminating. More later.
Manjula often teases me with reference to Krishna and the Gopi girls, so I was in for a little bit more today. It sort of relates to the fact I have one or two exes (three of which remain really good friends and Manjula has met during this trip)
The very next day another friend Victoria (no not an ex) treated us to a visit to Kew
this included the hive, which we’d heard about from Stephen, the bee man and cyclist, and regular visitor to Mysore Bed and Breakfast, check out his article
you’ll find him popping up all over the place.
so yet another collection of lovely memories for Manj
