What do Neil Armstrong,
Mother Theresa and the Beatles have in common? Each
of them in their own field, in their own way broke out
of the prevailing box of their era, followed a vision
of possibility and in so doing impacted and changed
the world for all time. Each of them moved into new
territory, broke new ground within themselves and in
the world. What was it that allowed them to do these
things? Are they really so different from each of us?
I haven’t been able to interview this particular
group of luminaries but I would bet there are a number
of similarities in how they moved towards their goals.
They each had
a capacity to use their imagination and marry that wonderful
faculty with the talents they had to work with. Neil
Armstrong was an engineer and test pilot before he became
an astronaut. I doubt he would have taken the steps
that led to his accomplishment, to that “giant
step for mankind” without a belief that is was
possible to land on the moon and lacking a passion to
shift that particular benchmark.
When Mother Teresa
was born in 1910 in Yugoslavia I doubt she could see
the details of the path that lay before her. But she
allowed herself to be moved by a deep impulse to help
alleviate the suffering of the world’s poor. Following
that deep stirring brought her in contact with not only
the world’s poor but also world leaders and eventually
to receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. The
immense humility she brought to her work touched all
who knew her.
Paul, John, Ringo
& George were knocking around Liverpool trying to
break out of the small world in which they were born.
Their vehicle was playing and exploring music. Experimenting,
immersing themselves in what they loved, exploring other
musical forms all gave birth to an approach to music
so innovative that it blew apart the boundaries of what
we took music to be. They didn’t hold to the box
of any one musical form or tradition but cross-pollenized
forms, created new ones.
Possibility, Passion,
Innovation these are some of the qualities that fed
their quest to move beyond where they or others had
been. The thing about it is that these are all normal
characteristics, attainable qualities, accessible to
each of us. Sometimes it’s a matter of recognizing
how regular they really are and when contacted in us
what they can generate. The other thing about these
qualities is that they add a dimension of aliveness;
they make life a lot more interesting and fun. They
keep us engaged in seeing what is past that next bend
in the road. Neil Armstrong, Mother Teresa, the Fab
Four didn’t stop with one attainment but kept
moving, discovering, kept experimenting with what was
possible.
Over the next months
I will be devoting time in this column to exploring
the stories of local people who have made a mark in
their field or industry, who have been innovative and
in so doing made a difference in their lives, a positive
impact on their neighborhood, the South Florida community
or the larger world stage. Beginning in July we will
showcase a segment of Entertainment News and Views’
radio show to interview these people. They may be local
to South Florida or occasionally from outside the area.
I intend to discuss with them what they feel has led
to their success and innovation and in so doing offer
stepping stones to those of you who are interested in
breaking out of any box you may be inhabiting to a wider
playing field and more possibility.
I invite you to
email me comments, with nominations for people to interview:
people who have inspired you with their success and
creativity, people who have moved past what others thought
was possible and in that movement made an impact, made
a difference. You can reach me, Connie Butler at connie@conniebutler.biz
Do not wait
for leaders; do it alone, person-to-person.
Mother Teresa
