When I was young and free I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I realized the world would not change, and lowered my sights to bringing change to my own country – but I soon realized that too seemed impossible.
As I entered my 30’s, I decided that if I could change just my community, I would have accomplished a small feat, but alas, I remained unsuccessful. When I reached my 40’s, I settled on bringing change to only my family, but to no avail.
It was when I hit 90 years old that I finally realized that if I had only changed myself first, then by example I could have perhaps changed my family and community. In turn, bettered my country, and from there I may even have been able to change the world.
We often find ourselves swept up in a quest to change others, failing to realize that if we only endeavored to change our own selves, we’d create a truly powerful and ripple effect. Bringing positive change to our universe begins not with grand sweeping gestures, but rather by improving the subtleties of our very own characters.
Indeed, when we live our lives according to the truths and values we ought to, others instinctively pick up our energy, thus generating a positive virus that can spiral further than our greatest expectations.
Want to make a change? Start a virus!
Don’t limit your change to sweeping global initiatives, start with meaningful and measurable steps, for those steps attract others, paving the path to sweeping global change.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
