How to make the world a better place (or at least a place with less guilt)

I don't think I've ever left a theatre after a show speechless. It always seems there is something to say, isn't there? "That actress was terrific." "What a great story." "Did you find the lighting as distracting as I did?"

I broke that trend last week though after watching Sage Theatre's production of My Name is Rachel Corrie.

As the show came to an end I found myself watching the safe little world I've built for myself getting torn down like the Palestinian home Corrie was trying to protect from the bulldozer sent to demolish it. She was crushed to death by that bulldozer. That's kind of how I felt.

And I think that's how the production team wanted the audience to feel.

I felt so much guilt after the production ended. I didn't really want to applaud because I felt guilty rewarding anyone at that point in time (even though Adrienne Smook was very good). I didn't want to leave. I felt guilty when I got home simply because I was home. I felt guilty when I crawled into my super soft new bed. There was a lot of guilt running through my head that night.

Which is why I think it has taken me so long to make this post. I've recently realized - even though I knew this before - that I can't change everything. I can't stop the Palestineian/Isreali conflict. I wish I could but I can't. I don't have the skill set to help. I can only be me. But that's not to say I won't change to world.

I'm a fan of Hugh McLeod's Blue Monster campaign for Microsoft:














I agree. "Change the world, or go home." I want to change the world too. I think we all have to do something good. I've always striven to make the world a better place for the people I can help. But I will do it in my own way and on my own terms. I have to. And I encourage everyone to do the same thing.

How will you make the world a better place today? Dream big, act small. Every little bit counts.