Boom Boom! Revolution

So, for those of you who just arrived on the planet, I am sorry to tell you that Michael Jackson has died.

Now, I am reluctant to confess this, and I don’t really like admitting it in public, but here goes: I am not and never was a Michael Jackson fan.

Gasp!

I know, I know. It’s some kind of crime to even utter such blasphemy, but nonetheless it’s true. I’ve got nothing against the guy; I recognize he was a talented and innovative force in the pop world; I just didn’t like his music all that much. Think what you will about me. I just hope we can still be friends.

At this point, I do feel compelled to admit that I was (and am) a huge fan of the Jackson 5 as a whole. There was hardly a prepubescent girl alive back in the day that wasn’t. Along with the Osmonds, Partridge Family and Bay City Rollers (okay you young’uns…google that last one for a good laugh).

Now even though I wasn’t a huge fan (ok, not a fan at all), there is no doubt that he was an historic and iconic figure in both the music world and in our society. His death was undoubtedly a significant event, as evidenced by the fact that in the days after his death I was inundated with his music. And that’s when I was reminded that there was at least one reason to like Michael Jackson post Jackson 5 days: Man in the Mirror.

That song is more than music. It’s a battle cry. It’s a declaration. It’s an oath. And, as the song implies, it’s something we all need to do. Hold that mirror up and ask yourself: how do I look? And I am not talking about your hair.

I think a lot of times people feel that in order to make a change in the world you have to do something of enormous proportion. Execute some grand gesture. Or have lots of money. Or be famous. And I think that thought stops people from doing anything at all. We get hung up because we don’t feel powerful enough. We look in the mirror we think things like, “What can I do that matters?” or “I’m just one person, what difference can I make?” or “Where do I even start?”

All good questions.

And Michael Jackson gave us a good answer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.

To change what’s happening in the world, we have to start at the source: us. And not the collective “us”, rather the individuals that make up the “us”. Afterall, if each individual in the “us” were to change, the collective “us” would have no choice but to follow.

Michael also says, “I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life,” and, as much as I love this song, I disagree with this line. It’s not about making a change for once in your life, it’s about making a change everyday. Nothing huge, nothing major, just a small, thoughtful change. But here’s the kicker, we have to decide to make that change, everyday. It’s too fleeting (and easy) to say, “From now on I am going to be different,” and move on with life and hope the change sticks. It’s quite another thing to make the statement, “Today, I am going to be different” and make it a daily conscious choice.

Whoa. That’s a lot of work.

Yes, it is.

But I think we’re up for it.

We can’t depend on the rich, the famous, or those with resources to create a better world.  It’s what we’ve been doing and it hasn’t really worked out all that great so far. YOU can be the reason the world is different.

Now THAT is power.

And yes, you, me, your neighbor, your kids, your best friend, the guy reading the paper on the bus, we all have it. We can look in the mirror and instead of hopelessly asking, “What can I do?” we can start saying, “What can I do?” And take even the smallest step toward making the world a better place by looking at yourself and making that change. Whatever that change is. Only you know.

And, no. We are not going to wake up tomorrow and have a world free of starving children. Or war. Or injustice. But you will wake up tomorrow knowing that we’re at least a fraction of an inch closer and you are the reason.  Good job.

We gotta get it right while we got the time.