B Channel

Thursday, March 30, 2006

a vision with a mission

Now that the Back in Bville things is really settling in, I'm seeing all these choices in what to do with myself. There are too many roads but they are not all that desirable. Certain ones appear to make the traveler, me being one, lethargic. Perhaps it's due to traveling the same road too long to the point where it dulls the senses. Some change is nessary to grow. Maybe it's the retired community that I've been running with lately that make me more sensitive to the fact that when you slow down the pace too much, nothing seems to change. That's probably the biggest adjustment I've had to make - it's slowing down the pace.

I looked at some Bville kids' blogs and noticed just how expressive these kids are. Competition I'm sure, is part of the driving force. They used pictures, music and poetry and were so full of life. There's no doubt that children have a newer perspective on things but the new friends I've met the past few months are not children but they have that zest for life that seeks an outlet that appears to be missing here.

One thing I brought back with me, after having spent significant time out West, is the need to commune with like-minded people, with nature and the deeper self. People are so much more socially and environmentally conscious there, but then trends tend to start there. Here's the four things that I cannot ignore any longer:

1. Communicate with children - when we are no longer children communication seems to isolate us if we are not doing this. It's a bridge building exercise which connects us with the future.

2. Music, art and culture are channels of communication that we all have a need for whether we realize it or not. If we lose this we've lost touch with ourselves.

3. Nature conservation is not enough for the impact of descruction far outways the contributions we've made to the global environment. Nature restoration is what will bring us back into harmony with the world.

4. Roots, rituals and the need for community is what completes who we are. It's the process of discovering who we are, acknowledging what we do and going where we need to go. That's what will establish a starting point and sets the direction.

So can this community take these things to heart? If God tells us all things are possible then there is no question. The real question is does is this community ready to embrace something new. This is the Mid-west, the bible-belt and the conservative majority tends to not be all that progressive.

Now this whole idea of change that has the power to touch the community in a very positive way makes sense, to me anyway. What takes it to larger context of comunity is leadership. I know this must sound like I'm talking to myself, but in a way I am for I have not invited anyone in on any conversation. I guess that was the purpose of these four first entries in this blog - to understand my own thinking and establish some tangible dimensions to what's possible.

I do have a few organizations where I can take my ideas and get some support and feedback. One I just joined this week is the Toastmasters organization. It's all about getting vocal and communications. Bettering the community should be thing everyone wants but unfortunately we have many people who don't share that view. So there's the challenge - touch the community in such a way that it works to better community - create these opportunities that make it possible.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Affiliations to jump start me into being... in Bville

I found it very comfortable in my re-establishing exercise at first since I left some un-finished business when I headed West about a year-and-a-half ago.

The local Kiwanis organization I caused some grieve as I promised to take over as President last year but left to work a year long project rather abruptly. I'm now fully engaged back into that circle. It's like being in an optimist club for the people are for most part business professionals and retirees who are very positive.

The other club was the BTA tennis club which I literally jumped into playing immediately. Got to play inside all winter which helped develop a somewhat regular exercise program. What a great bunch of guys, mostly retired, to play with. I'm getting ready to play in the doubles league which will provide a variety of people to play with (and against).

My Cursillo was another group I'd missed which I got involved with through the First Presbyterian Church where I also go regularly. The new pastor there has definitely inspired me.

As far as my computer business affiliations I am finding that it's much simpler to just start over. Picking up the old ways I found myself giving away more time doing computer work than I can afford primarily through 'helping' friends.

So... I feel like I'm on a new trail on a familiar place. Time to bring some new ideas to the table.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Where to start...

I've been back in Bville for several months now. Got plenty to do to get re-planted here.

Things have changed here this past year. It's busier even though things are still a bit slow for me. But's changing pretty fast as it's easy to get into clubs and organized activities here - sports or otherwise.

People in the community are thinking that some significant changes are coming and they're probably right. Lots of construction - homes and fast-food and strip-malls are the most obvious.

I'll start with collecting some websites to present the various views of the community.