Be The Change

UPDATE: Deadline change.

I just realized that even though sign ups for this swap close on Friday, you won't get the name of the person you are matched with until sometime on Saturday. That give you only Monday or Tuesday to mail out your letter. One of our members isn't going to be home those days and it is a very short turn around. I've changed the deadline so that you have until next Saturday, April 7, to send out your letter.

I'm really looking forward to this as I know all of you are, too. What an exciting adventure to embark on! ;-)

Many of us are familiar with Gandhi's quote:

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

Sometimes it is hard to put this into action. We may say we want world peace (myself included), and we still cut people off in traffic, push through crowds, talk badly about others, etc. We put these negative energies into the world, they collide with others' negative energies and build. Those negative energies have to go somewhere or be dispelled with positive energies.

What change would you like to see in the world?

Would you like to see less violence? What small thing can you do to put less violence, aggression, negativeness out into the world? Look at the violence you allow into your own world. What television shows do you watch? Do you encourage people to "don't get mad, get even?"

Would you like to see less child abuse? What small thing can you do to honor children and support parents? Do you speak badly about children you see in public? Do you scowl or smile? Do you add to or relieve the pressure parents feel? Could you give a parent a night off and watch their children?

Would you like to see less discrimination? What small thing can you do to honor and respect everyone you meet, no matter in what way they are different from you? Do you notice the elderly or handicapped on public transportation? Do you hold open doors, offer seats? Do you join in with others at the office making fun of another employee for the way they look, dress, act, whatever?

This swap is about making a commitment to making a change -- a change you want to see in the world. They say it takes 6-8 weeks for a change to become permanent, so this swap will last for 6 weeks. During this time, you will:

1. Decide on a change you'd like to see in the world and choose a small action(s) you will take to be that change.
2. Write a letter that describes the change you want to see and the action(s) you commit to taking over the 6 weeks. This is your commitment letter. Putting your action(s) into words will help you define more clearly exactly what you want to do. Seeing your words on paper will help you hold to your commitment.
3. If possible, make a copy of your letter so you can remember over the 6 weeks exactly what you committed to.
4. Mail your letter to your partner by Tuesday, April 3rd and begin being the change.
5. E-mail your partner once a week by the Saturday of that week (April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12). Let your partner know what actions you took. Talk about your successes and failures and how you might approach the next week differently. Even if you didn't do anything that week, e-mail your partner and let him/her know. Just doing that will help motivate you do be the change the next week.
6. You will be receiving e-mails from the person who sent you their commitment letter. Please respond supportively.

Between the two people you will be in contact with over 6 weeks, it is likely that a friendship will develop -- a friendship based on supporting each other in making change. How awesome is that!?

This swap is set up so that you have until March 30 to sign up. Just 4 days later, your letter has to be in the mail. If by the time Swap-bot tells you that this swap is about to start you think that you don't have the time to make this kind of commitment, please drop from the swap. Allow your prospective partner the opportunity to be matched up with someone who will provide support and motivation.

Because the send date is set for April 3rd, the opportunity to rate your partner will come up before we are finished with the 6 weeks. If, at that time, you haven't received a letter and/or e-mails, I encourage you to rate your partner with a 1. The rating can always change if some odd circumstance happened with the letter and/or e-mails.

I am serious about the ratings because this swap doesn't require much but a bit of your time. I want every member of the swap to be able to have the support they need to be successful. Honestly, we could all do this on our own. The power here is the network of support. Doing this together will help us all make the change.

Life is about the journey. Are you ready to join us on a 6-week adventurous journey?

P.S. If you would like even more support, I have organized a snail-mail round robin on Gather at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976923481 Stop by and take a look.