Consequences

Paul and Grace on Pony circa 1938

Ever stop to wonder what would happen if you stopped being the way you’ve always been? What if you simply stopped being the person you’ve become? What if you adopted different priorities, different moral standards, began to use different means to communicate? Have you changed over the last 20 years? What difference have those changes made to bring you where you are today?

How long could you keep it up? Can it be permanent? Could you, should you?

What would be the consequences? If you just stopped, changed your “self” would the weather change? How about the value of your property, your health, your time? What if you began eating different foods, using different words and mannerisms…what if you changed your morals? Would any of it matter? Why? To whom…and would THAT ( the who) matter to the new you? What if you stopped supporting “feed the children” and started supporting cancer research instead, how about medical marijuana research? Would it matter? Why? What about the _______!!

What if money mattered more…or less…what if honor mattered more…or less?

How would the people who’ve known you…respond…or WOULD they? Would anyone notice? And if they did…would there be a change in the way they interact with you? If they did, would it matter?…you’re a different person now anyway, right? What would it mean if you changed your person and nobody did notice, or acknowledge, or well, anything? Would that tell you something?

Would it simply be a headline…a passing line of type or words in the river of time? Would it be something to gossip or laugh about…something to witness and acknowledge, even just briefly?

What if the word “friend” took on a new meaning to you?

What if you stopped being good at what you have always been good at, and started to be good at something else? What if you just stopped…being you?

If you’re smart could you start being “stupid” or if you were stupid could you start being “smart”. Is it a matter of discipline and will or is it genetics? Could you just decide to be stronger, healthier, have more stamina…what about being weaker and less powerful? Should you? Who says? You, or the people around you?

What about courage…could you be more cowardly…or more courageous…by way of a simple decision? Should you?

The place where you live, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, how you use your money, what you do in your spare time…

What if you stopped being angry, addicted, uncommitted…what if you stopped being kind, in control, or faithful? What if you stopped being truthful, or what if you stopped lying to people. Just for a change? Would that be OK?

I’m not talking about being bad if you’ve been “good”; or being good if you’ve always been “bad”. That’s too easy. What if you just changed who you are? Instead of heading East what if you turned North-Northwest or South even? What would be the effect of your decision? What are the consequences?

How is it different when change is imposed on you by events beyond your control like crime, violence, health, economics or geography? How do you respond when someone says something important was “overcome by events”, does it make you mad or do you empathize? Is it weakness and lack of commitment or a simple acknowledgement of limited power?

A man died last week…does it matter?

If it had been you, would it matter?

It’s amazing to me how two people can see the same scenario unfold and come up with totally different descriptions. It must be the history the witness brings to the story, it must be the limited field of view, it’s a subjective perspective. It’s what makes you and your perspective, well…yours.

Is it time for change? If so, what becomes your motivation, something different I’d say.

Is change for the sake of change immoral? Yes or no, isn’t that a subjective judgment?

Truth or consequences…a man died last week…it matters because…I’m not going to be that guy.

Advertisement