Welcome to the Thinking for a Change archive. All entries are listed in chronological order with the most recent entry first. If you are not a current subscriber, but would like to be one, follow this LINK.

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2008
October 29
When I was little my mother used to get booklets in the mail from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. I would read them because he always started with a story that I enjoyed very much, never realizing that I was learning a lesson. Remembering that experience enhanced my enjoyment when I found this quote from Dr. Peale.

        "I'd rather attempt something great and fail than attempt nothing and succeed."

The next time you find yourself resisting change, you might want to remember Dr. Peale's words. I know I will.

October 22
Carolyne Wallace, a Thinking for a Change reader, sent me an edition of Today's Turning Point a daily message list she receives. Dr. David Jeremiah quotes Edward Kennedy speaking at his brother's funeral.

        "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to                 change a small portion of events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the         history of this generation."

Perfect reminder for me to take the opportunity to thank each of you who generously donated to the JDRF Walk for the Cure earlier this month. Team Q reached its $10,000.00 goal because of people like you. Individually we can't hope to make a dent in the dollars needed for Diabetes Research, but together a cure is possible. This is a change I hope for every day and I'm thrilled to have you on my team!

October 9

Discouraged? John Wooden said:

        "Don't let what you can't do get in the way of what you can do."

Simple sentence; powerful message. We all need to be reminded to focus our attention in the right place and this one does it for me. I hope it works for you, too.

October 2
Death is a difficult change. This week, Paul Newman and my cousin, Scott Taylor, died. Newman will live on in the amazing characters he portrayed on film; Scott in the hearts of his friends and family. People die - it's a fact, but they can live forever based the actions they choose to take in their lives. In The Verdict, Paul Newman played Frank Galvin who said,

        "If we are to have faith in justice, we need to believe in ourselves and ACT with                 justice."

If you want what you believe in to last, you need to ACT within it on a daily basis. Rest in peace to both of these men who touched my life.


P.S. In addition to re-watching The Sting this weekend, our family will be gathering in Stevens Point on Sunday for the 4th Annual Walk for the Cure, raising money for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Read a story about our family and see Quinn in action here.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of you who chose to ACT and donated to Team Q's fundraising efforts after Monday's Special Edition of Thinking for a Change. If you can help us find a cure with a contribution, no matter how small, click here. Together we can make a difference for the millions who have Type 1 Diabetes and Quinn!

September 29
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." said Margaret Mead. I believe that with all my heart and need your help to prove it. As many of you know, my eldest grandson, Quinn, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was 22 months old. It is my dream that a cure for this difficult disease that affects millions of children and adults will be found - soon. The work done by JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is getting closer to making that happen. But research takes money.

Every week over 8,000 people around the world read these messages about change. Think of the impact we could make if each of you pledged just $5.00. I know times are tough and there are so many places you could spend your money, but think of how you'll feel when they announce a breakthrough and you'll know it was because you cared AND acted.

Our family, as Team Q, joins other committed people in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, for the Walk for a Cure on October 5th. This Sunday morning we'll be walking and hereby invite you to either join us in person or via a donation. Click here to go directly to the JDRF site where you can register or pledge your support. (If the hyperlink doesn't work, cut and paste this into your browser: http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.home). Once at the Walk Central Page, search for Team Q or Chris Clarke-Epstein. Then choose to donate or register to walk.

You have my eternal gratitude. We can change this part of the world!

September 24
Why is change important? Whitney Young speculated that:

        "The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The             only real nobility is in being superior to your former self."

In order to fulfill this call to nobility, you have to be willing to see yourself as you actually are and then change. Easier said than done, but better done than talked about!

September 17
At last week's Weight Watchers meeting, our leader, Ruth, quoted Marianne Williamson during her closing:

         "Playing small doesn't serve the universe."

I love that thought. Change is often tough so we back off and do little things. Playing small doesn't serve you either. What would happen if you dared to be bold? Is this the week that you're willing to up the change-ante in your life?


P.S. A Weight Watcher's Update. I've lost 44.6 lbs and Miriam has hit the 90 lb mark! Way to go Miriam, and thanks to all of you who have asked to be kept up on our progress. Your encouraging emails mean a lot to both of us. 

September 10
I meet a woman at a recent program who shared with me that her husband of thirty-eight years had just announced that he was moving out and wanted a divorce. Some change just arrives and smacks you. After we talked, I remembered George Chakiris comment.

         "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."

I wish I had remembered it while we were talking; I think it would have been meaningful for her. If you find yourself in the middle of a bad time, I bet it will be significant for you. And to the individual who inspired me to remember this important concept - this one's especially for you!

September 3
I spend a lot of time thinking about the power of the Comfort Zone in the lives of people and organizations. The seductive power of the Comfort Zone is one of the biggest barriers to Change. No wonder I fell in love with the greeting card that proclaimed:

"Because her original pattern was so worn the last time she flew apart, she was forced to let the pieces reattach as they pleased. Once the shock wore off, she welcomed the change."

Worn patterns, like Comfort Zones, need to be changed and people need to be supported as they live through the shock. Then they need encouragement to finally see and welcome the benefits of their new reality. Feel like you're flying apart? You're not alone. You're just working to expand your Comfort Zone.

August 28
For those of you who have wondered why these messages have been sporadic the last few weeks…well, computer problems, interesting travel schedules, playing-hooky-on-a-summer-day behavior sort of sums it up. Sebastine Chamfort said,

        "The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed."

I'm sure you're pleased to know that we don't waste any days around here. Promise me that you won't either!

August 13
I grabbed an old notebook as I packed for the annual National Speakers Association Convention in New York City. Tucked inside, I found a piece of paper with this Tom (he-continues-to-be-a thinker-I-admire) Peter's quote.

        "The only job security you have is to be more talented tomorrow than you are                 today."

As we all face change driven by economic uncertainty this is a good philosophy to ponder and embrace. If you are a leader, your people would be well served to hear this message from you along with personalized feedback on ways they can improve their skill set. What would happen if you made self-improvement your next change project?

P.S. If you saw the Sex in the City movie and left the theater feeling slightly depressed as I did, (I will leave figuring out why I might have been depressed up to you) make a date to see Momma Mia! I left the movie theater, got in my convertible, turned on the oldies station full blast, and drove home singing all the way. I'll see it again in the theater, have already downloaded the soundtrack, and will buy the DVD the day it's released. Not for the plot, not for the deeper meaning that it reveals, but simply because it made me feel joyous. There's far too little of that going around these days!

July 16
I get a newsletter from the Prouty Project and they always include a guess-the-source-of-this-quote contest. In the most recent issue they reported that Jeanne Kassim knew that Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots said,

        "There are a lot of guys who say they want to work harder and be the best, but they         never pay the price."

(I'm certain he meant to include women in his comments. You know that I do!) Change is like that too. There are many people who want to change, but most of them don't want to actually do something different! How about becoming one of those people who want things in their life to change and are doing things differently. You can do it; I know you can! 

July 9
Dick Clark is quoted on the back of Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.'s new book, My Stroke of Insight, saying about the story,

        "None of us needs sympathy; what we need is a helping hand and understanding."

Boy, is that right. Think of the last major change you experienced. There we those who gave you a shoulder to cry on and those who gave you a gentle kick in the pants or a well timed suggestion. Who was of more value? It's easy to fall into a pattern of looking for or giving sympathy when we should be giving recognition - this is tough, I know you/we can do it - and assistance - why don't we try a restaurant that has healthy choices. I'm going to watch my behavior to myself as well as others, what about you?

P.S. Thanks to all of you who sent messages of encouragement to Miriam and I. We continue to work on our healthy habits (catch the restaurant reference? <G>), count points, and go to meetings. We've both set our lifetime goals and will keep you posted. We think Weight Watchers is a wonderful helping hand. Miriam says, "While the encouragement of friends and family is long-term sustenance, the delight of strangers and casual acquaintances to our success provides me with an adrenaline rush that makes the hard days easier. Thanks!"

July 1
Okay, I promised to tell you how Miriam and I have worked to change our stories and by doing so, our lives.

Last October, Miriam quietly announced that she was going to join a Weight Watchers at Work program. I could, she said, go with her. Are you nuts, I thought. By January, 2008 she had lost over 50 lbs. I no longer thought she or Weight Watchers was nuts. I joined her group, learned some new healthful habits, listened to amazing stories of effort, persistence, and success and started working the Weight Watchers system.

Here we are, 6 months later, and Miriam is 80 plus pounds lighter and I'm 30 plus pounds lighter than my former self. We've changed our story and have new results! Stayed tuned, we're not done yet. This is change we will cheerfully continue.

June 25
For the second week in a row, I need to thank a Thinking for a Change reader for inspiration. From Northwestern Mutual, Jo Maze shared a quote from a Crucial Conversations class she attended.

"First you control your story. Then your story controls you. If you want to change your results, change your story."

What a perfect assignment for a few, quiet summer moments. (Maybe if you're lucky you can do it while on vacation - sitting on a lake shore or next to a resort pool.) How could you change your story? Next week I'll tell you how my daughter, Miriam, and I have done just that!

June 18
Clarence Miller from Cuna Mutual sent me a quote for Leaders. Gerard Seijts from the University of Western Ontario said,

"Changing the culture of a company can be a daunting prospect, but the outcome of not trying is much worse."

Now, you might not be in charge of changing a company's culture, but the same sentiment applies to changing with your team or working to change yourself. Be honest, what is it that you are reluctant to change but know in your heart is going to be an issue if you don't?

Thanks for sharing, Clarence. Great food for thought for us all.

June 11
In Northern Wisconsin, this was the year that Mother Nature decided to keep us hanging. Would summer ever arrive? Finally the weather has taken a turn for thoughts of outdoor activity to be more than wishful thinking! People who like sailing will appreciate Bob Herbert's comment.

"Winds change. If you're sailing against the wind today, it may be different tomorrow."

Maybe you're feeling like you're sailing against the wind in your personal or professional life. Think of Bob's hope for tomorrow - winds shift!

June 4
Did you know that Chris has been writing these messages for 7 years?
Did you know that past issues are available just by visiting this link?
Here is a classic issue from November 2001 - to find other great issues or inspire yourself for change, drop in at Chris' archive anytime.

Who are you spending your time with? Elizabeth Willitt said, "the key is to keep company with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." Spending time with others who share your excitement, enthusiasm, and joy for life increases your excitement, enthusiasm, and joy for life. (You can complete the opposite cause and effect yourself!) I guess our moms were right...choosing the right people to hang around with really matters.

May 28
Ever lose sight of what's important? A Starbuck's cup quote got me to thinking about how easy it is for that to happen. Film and television producer, Bernie Brillstein said:

"In a world where celebrity equals talent, and where make-believe is called reality, it is most important to have real love, truth, and stability in your life."

Make time today to take stock. What's the real love in your life? What do you hold to be true? What creates stability? Now give thanks for each of these treasures.

(Editor's note: Don't worry, you didn't miss last week's issue. We had some technical difficulties that prevented me from sending Change. All seems to be back to normal and I apologize for last week!)

May 14
I have long been a fan of Joseph Campbell's work. Earlier today I ran across one of the wonderful quotes he is famous for.

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

I remembered the quote - generally, but was taken aback by the words get rid of. I didn't recall the force of Campbell's conviction that change should be an action taken rather than a reaction to outside events. Have you been thinking about change this way? What could you get rid of? And then what could you find waiting?

May 8
It probably won't surprise those of you who have been reading these messages for awhile - I love spending time in card shops. Recently I found one with this on the cover:

"She packed up her potential and all she had learned, grabbed a cute pair of shoes and headed out to change a few things."

What would you pack if you set out to change a few things? Let me know. I may send the card to the best answer.

May 1
Every once and a while I encounter a quote that doesn't need much commentary. This one from H. Jackson Browne falls into that category.

Never underestimate your power to change yourself; never overestimate your power to change others.

Most people get it backwards!

April 24
Speaking to a group of Petroleum Marketers today, I got to thinking about change as a function of perspective. That reminded me of a passage from Nora Ephron's book, I Feel Bad About My Neck. (Great book.) Nora writes...

Things change in New York; things change all the time. You don't mind this when you live here; when you live here, it's part of the caffeinated romance of this city that never sleeps. But when you move away, you experience change as a betrayal....You turned your back for only a moment, and suddenly everything's different.

Change your perspective and change your feelings about change. Next time you're unhappy about a change, try looking at it from a different angle. Who knows, it may feel completely different.

April 16
Last week jazz, this week classical. The legendary pianist and conductor, Daniel Barenboim said

"The best thing about being a musician? Every time I play, I learn something new."

What about your relationship with your work? Does it challenge you to learn? If not, what could you do to rekindle the learning spirit in your life?

April 10
During an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, jazz musician Herbie Hancock said that his connection with Buddhism was important because "It's refreshing." His comment got me thinking that we all need something refreshing in our lives. Spring, music, good friends, good wine, good food, good fiction, well written prose... My list is endless. My concern is for the days when I don't pay attention to the fact that there are things during my day that ARE refreshing. Think I'll work to change that. I believe that Herbie, and the Buddha, would approve.

April 2
My friend and Master Facilitator, Kristin Arnold, CSP, sent me this thought-provoking Wayne Dyer quote.

"When you change the way you think about things, the things you look at change."

What could you look at differently? If you looked differently, would you be better off? Worth a try, don't you think?

March 26
Roger Bannister, the famous runner, has always intrigued me. He had to overcome an embedded mindset - humans can't run a mile in under four minutes - in order to change the sport of track. Listen to one of the reasons he was successful.

"The man who can drive himself farther once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."

Every change has some element or time of pain in it. It is the ability to work through the painful piece that always allows you to get to the next step. It may not be the equivalent of a four minute mile, but I bet there's some change in your future that will test your resolve. Remember, Bannister did what everyone thought was impossible - you could too!

March 19
Lots of people have advice about how to change. William James has a good, short take on the subject.

"To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions."

My favorite part, as you might guess, is Do it flamboyantly! (I added the exclamation point - I couldn't help myself. It felt flamboyant in a keyboard kind of way.) Sometimes I think we're so frightened of doing change wrong that we forget that you're ALWAYS going to do things wrong during change. There's no way not to make mistakes when you're trying new things. So, at least do them with flair!

March 13
Most organizations these days talk about wanting their people to work in teams. Many organizations don't clearly understand what it takes to build a team - in training, time, and resources. The great basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, has the expertise to comment.

"One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man can't make a team"

Allow me to paraphrase into a change perspective. One person can be a crucial ingredient to a change, but one person can't make a change. The next time you're faced with a change, think of the team you could assemble and go for it!

March 5
Hey, how are things going for you? In Northern Wisconsin we're in the worst part of winter. Isn't this ever going to be over?! Sometimes it's hard to keep your spirits up when there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wants us to remember that.

"Oh, we all get run over once in our lives. But one must pick oneself up again and behave as if it were nothing."

That will be much easier when the mountains of snow in our driveway start to shrink, but in the meantime, I'll do my best - if you will, too.

February 28
Ever been in a meeting or with a group of co-workers or friends when the conversation turned negative about an upcoming change? You may not have been thrilled about the change yourself, but you didn't hate it either. As you listened to the unhappiness of the others, you decided to keep your more positive opinions to yourself. No big deal, right? Martin Luther King, Jr. might disagree with your lack of action.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Deciding to support complaints with the agreement of silence is, as my mother would say, naughty.

February 20
I'm reading a charming book discovered after hearing an author interview on NPR. Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish, tells her story - growing up on an Iowa farm during the depression. In a section describing her grandmother, she says,

"Hers was a no-nonsense, pull-up-your-socks approach to life, and it was her happy pragmatism that has stayed with me throughout the years. It was she who would say to us...'If you're looking for a helping hand you'll find one at the end of your arm.'"

It was the words happy pragmatism that stopped me as I was reading. Seems like that's a perfect attitude to have during change! (Discovering that helping hand wouldn't hurt either.) Let's make Millie's grandmother proud by taking her advice.

February 6
J. A. Jance has published at least 35 books; I've read them all. (If you like mysteries, you'll like her books. Start with the J. P. Beaumont series first - in order.) While reading her latest, Hand of Evil, I found the following paragraph.

"Don't," Deb Springer advised. "Nobody ever accomplished anything worthwhile by staying out of trouble. You need to decide what it is you want to do and then set about doing it."

This is the key to proactive change. Figure out what needs to be done, screw up your courage, and get to work. You'll be amazed how much energy you'll get out of this process!

January 31
This week marks the passing of Margaret Truman Daniel, daughter of a President, mother of 4 boys, singer, and writer of books. She lived a long and interesting life and leaves a legacy through both her children and her writing. Although she lived a privileged life, she never forgot her early life in Missouri and the values she learned there. It isn't surprising that she said this about the value of hard work and persevering.

"I do not believe that hard work goes astray, and I know that I had worked. I was willing to go on working."

Sometimes we think (fantasize is really a better word) that once we set out on a path of change, everything will fall into place and be easy. What Margaret reminds us of is the imperative to do the work necessary to accomplish what needs to be done. There will be a time during a change when you'll need to say, "I am willing to keep on working!"

January 24
As a person who didn't plan the end of the year very well - deductibles, you know - I've spent considerable time this week working on some not critical, but important, health issues. Every time I visit, my health care clinic provides me with a sheet of helpful information about my latest issue, with both my name and age printed boldly across the top of the page. These reminders of my age AND my latest evidence of physical deterioration made for a melancholy week. Until, that is, I received an email from my friend Rick Jakle with the following reminder:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOW, what a ride'!

Much better perspective, don't you think?

P.S. Many thanks to all of you who responded to my inquiry about changing Change. (I was tickled that everyone got the irony of asking about changing the notes about change. Nice to see that we're starting 2008 with a working sense of humor!) The overwhelming consensus was to keep it as is. Weekly, short, and to the point. Thanks especially to Greg O'Hearn who suggested the slight formatting change you see in this issue. Greg thought this would make it more user friendly, especially if printed out. We agree. Keep the feedback coming, any time. We love it!

January 16
How has the new year started for you? CNN announced that the stock market has gotten off to its worst beginning-of-the-year start ever! Depressing. An emotion that reminded me of Colin Rose's comments. "You are not stuck with your feelings. You can choose to change them." Or just turn CNN off for a while. <G>

P.S. Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  Keep them coming. In case you missed it, last week I asked you, "Should I change anything?" If you have any ideas about changing Change, let me know. Send me an email with your ideas at Chris@Change101.com. I'll be tickled to hear from you!

January 9
Thinking for a Change reader, Marti Cargile sent me a link to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article describing the swearing-in ceremony of  Milwaukee's new Chief of Police, Edward Flynn. Listen to a part of his remarks. "In my experience, being in favor of change is a little like being in favor of gravity. Change will come, whether or not you favor it. ...Although law enforcement's challenges change, our fundamental responsibilities do not." There's a lot of change truth in that statement. Thinking of gravity as a metaphor for change is a wonderful perspective, isn't it? I can't wait to see what Chief Flynn accomplishes with this attitude about change. I'll keep you posted.

P.S. Hey, it's a new year!  I've been doing these messages just about every week for 7 years. (Hard to believe, isn't it?) Pretty much the same format - quote or situation I've run across and what it made me think about. It occurred to me that it was time for me to ask you, "Should I change anything?" If you have any ideas about changing Change, let me know. Send me an email (Chris@Change101. com) with your ideas. I'll be tickled to hear from you!

2007

Dec 19
If you haven't all ready, pretty soon you'll be hearing about New Year's Resolutions. I'm not a big fan of this annual hysteria unless the resolutions it generates are very specific AND have significant personal motivation behind them. (Can you tell I'm working on one for myself?) If you consider Marilyn Ferguson's idea, "Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside," as you decide on a resolution for 2008, I think you'll be on the right track. I'll keep you posted on how mine works out.

All the best for your Holidays and a joyous start for 2008! See you in a few weeks.

Dec 13
My grandson, Elroy, has taken to spending much of his day exploring worlds that don't exist and fighting monsters that he is confident he can conquer (with the aid of whatever is at hand). Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, said "True change takes place in the imagination." Perhaps that is how we can best bring change forth - by imagining our outcome, and then striding confidently towards it.

Dec 5
Boy, I love my iPod. I hook it up to a set of portable speakers and fill the hotel bathroom with music as I get ready. This morning I heard Cher singing a song from her latest album, Bittersweet. The song, "Greatest Song I Ever Heard," contains the line, "If you want to win you've got to play the game." It occurred to me that this was a great motivator for change. If there's a change and you're sitting on the sidelines...you're not going to win. Guaranteed!

Nov 29
Driving home from the airport yesterday, listening to Chapter a Day on Wisconsin's NPR station I heard this line from Anthony Doerr's book, Four Seasons in Rome. "You find your way through a place by getting lost." What a perfect description of life during change. Maybe a predictor of success could be your ability to tolerate being lost for a while.

P.S. I hope your Thanksgiving was as joy-filled as ours. I want you to know that when I thought of all the things I'm grateful for, all 6000 of you were at the top of my list!

Nov 14
Lately I've been talking about the need for Leaders to be optimists. Then I found this message from Carl Sandburg, the great American poet. "I am an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way." Sometimes that's the only way you can deal with change. Take a step in a direction knowing you can course correct as you move along - with enthusiasm, that is!

Nov 7
Years ago I signed up for a text message service that sends a quote to my iPhone every evening. (Clever, how I slipped that iPhone reference in, isn't it?) Most of the quotes I delete but every once and a while there's one that's worth keeping and passing on. "Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well," said the Buddha. A case for Thinking for a Change if I've ever heard one.

Oct 31
Many people think negatively about change because of fear. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of the you name it. Listen to Helen Keller. "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure." She might have been blind, but she certainly had insights! Don't let fear hold you back.

Oct 24
A few Changes ago I quoted Susan Taylor on suffering. A Change reader wrote to caution me about being glib about people’s suffering. Whenever I need to think about the connections between suffering, attitudes, and the human condition, I go to Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning. He never fails to spark my thinking and certainly did so again. “When we are no longer able to change a situation…we are challenged to change ourselves.” (Please know that I always appreciate comments from you!)

Oct 17
I was talking to my friend, speaker, and author Max Jaffe about the right way to put toilet paper on a roll. Now, usually, Max and I are in synch but horror of horrors he admitted that he put his toilet paper roll on with the paper feeding off the bottom – this is just wrong! I explained that if and when I encountered a roll like that at his house, I’d be compelled to correct it. “Of course, Chris,” he said. “That’s because you’re all about change.”

Oct 10
I've always been a fan of Julia Child. Her Mastering the Art of French Cooking has been on my kitchen bookshelf for years. I was intrigued to learn that her husband, Paul, was her early mentor and coach. He suggested a philosophy of life. "Use all your senses, all the time. …Take pains with the work; do it carefully. Relish the details. Enjoy your hunger. And remember why you're there." That's worth a discussion over a fine glass of French wine. Red or white?

Oct 4
Wednesday, I spoke at the Women's Success Forum in Denver, Colorado. Along with 2,000 other women (and about two dozen men) I heard Susan L. Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine say, "Suffering is living in that painful place and not doing anything about it." You can't imagine how quickly I wrote that down so I could share it with you. Talk about a case for change! My wish is that you're not suffering needlessly because, you know, you could change.
 

P.S. Thanks from the bottom my heart for all of you who donated to our Walk for the Cure this Saturday for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). So far readers of Thinking for a Change have donated $ 1,305.00. Our family asks for donations and walks every year so we can change this painful place for my grandson Quinn and the millions of others who deal with the daily reality of finger pokes to determine blood sugar levels, severely monitored diets, and shots or pumps to deliver the insulin their bodies can't produce. It's not too late to make a donation. Help us make this particular change real before Quinn goes to high school…Simply click on this link (www.walk.jdrf.org) and at the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) website search for First Name: Chris and Team Name: Team Q. Then, click on Chris Clarke-Epstein to make your donation.

Sept 30
There are some changes that you can't do alone.

As many of you know, my oldest grandson, Quinn, was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes when he was 22 months old. That means, in everyday terms, that he has to keep track of everything he eats, test his blood sugars 4 to 5 times a day, and rather than the five insulin shots a day he used to get - thanks to medical advances - he now gets his insulin after each meal from the computerized pump attached to his stomach and which he wears in a pouch around his waist. More advances could mean a cure and then he would be like any kid who eats when he's hungry, sneaks a bag of chips once and awhile, and gets to lick the frosting bowl when his Ahma frosts a cake.

This is the change I dream about every day.

It can happen, it will happen, if we can raise enough money for the exciting research that's going on right now. Our family is Walking for the Cure Saturday October 6th in Stevens Point, WI and we need your help. A donation to Team Q will help us ensure the search for a cure continues and succeeds. Simply click on this link (www.walk.jdrf.org) and at the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) website search for First Name: Chris and Team Name: Team Q. Then, click on Chris Clarke-Epstein to make your donation.

Over, 5,000 people read my messages each week. Just think what could happen if half of you decided to pledge $10.00 for this worthwhile cause! Please help our family, along with all the other families of children with Juvenile Diabetes, to find a cure.

Thank you - from Chris, who is grateful from the bottom of her heart that you're willing to change.

Sept 26
Mark Twain said that those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't read. Alvin Toffler brought the thought into the present with his words of wisdom. "The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." How about you? What do you need to learn? Unlearn? And relearn?

Sept 12
At the end of an Annie's Mailbox column, I found this quote from President Woodrow Wilson. "I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." Next time you're working on a challenging change, consider the brain power you could borrow and go get it. Remember, it's an order from a Commander-in-Chief.

Sept 5
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that my daughter, Miriam (who manages the Thinking for a Change process), is a scrapbooker. Sometimes she lets me tag along when she goes on a scrapbooking adventure. During a recent trip to a store in Rhinelander, I found a stamp with the following quote. "Change is to give up what we are, to become what we could be." You can bet I bought the stamp, put it in a prominent place on my desk, and intend to use it often!

Aug 29
It's easy to convince ourselves that change is more of an issue for us now, in the 21st Century. However, every once and a while we get reminded that change always has, and always will be, a part of life. Sometime before he died in 1832, the German playwright and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, said, "We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden." True then, true now!

Aug 22
My friend Kathy Dempsey sent me this quote about Albert Einstein. "Einstein was the first person who said it: everything has changed now, except our way of thinking. And we've got to find ways to change our way of thinking." Who am I to argue with Einstein? What have you done lately to change your way of thinking about your job, your family and friends, or your life? Maybe this weekend would be a good time to start a thinking-changing routine.

Aug 15
Facing some tough stuff? What if you really believed in the Bumper Sticker by Anonymous. "Permission to be afraid is denied." Then what would you do?

Aug 2
If you're just about ready to embark on a change, remember what Martin Luther King, Jr. said. "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase." Sometimes we forget that most change has a significant element of faith in it.

July 25
Came across a Japanese Proverb: "Be not afraid to go slowly; be only afraid of standing still." That encourages me to remember baby steps count when it comes to change. I hope it encourages you, too.

July 18
Not all changes work out perfectly. That's when you need a perspective neatly expressed by Corrie Ten Boom. "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." The next time you're in the dark, stop for a minute and think about who's on the train with you that you trust. Maybe it's time for you to connect with them.

July 11
My husband, Frank, is a great reader. One of the things that makes our marriage work is the fact that we both climb into bed, book in hand, and with our own bedside lights so the first one too tired to read can sleep while the other can finish their chapter. Frank likes to read westerns and I believe he's read all that Louis L'Amour has written. Imagine my delight when I found this quote from the prolific Mr. L'Amour. "You can't learn anything from the experience you're not having." Why not make the balance of this year one of new experiences. Think of all you could learn!

June 27
If you like to laugh and enjoy the Southeastern part of the United States, then you'll LOVE Roy Blount Jr's new book, Long Time Leaving. (I plan on getting it on CD to hear it in the author's voice and with that terrific Georgia accent.) Wishing for the South of his youth, Blount writes, "I just wish the South would let me decide what it should change and what it shouldn't." How many of us would love to tell our bosses, our organizations, and our families what they should change and what they shouldn't? How many of them would like to tell us? In the cold light of day, we know it doesn't work that way...but it is nice to think of it as possible.

June 20
Interviewed about his newest album, Memory Almost Full, Paul McCartney said, "Look back at the past, but don't live in it and don't expect it to happen again. It's very much a changing world, and you have to leave room for new stuff." This sentence packs both meaning and hope for a person or a group facing change. If you don't get the meaning part - think boy/girl relationships in high school. If you get the meaning but not the hope - remember carbon paper. If you're still not sure, buy/download the album and listen to "The End of the End."

June 13
The last edition of CBS Sunday Morning had a story about the cafes of Paris. It seems that they are disappearing. The profiled cafe owner who is struggling to stay in business said, "Everything around us is changing so we have to hold on to this tradition." I've only had the opportunity for one afternoon in which to enjoy a glass of wine and people watching from a movie-set perfect cafe in Paris, but I've certainly dreamed of returning to do it again. Sometimes change isn't the answer; I hope he does hold on!

May 30
A client asked me to craft a presentation on Leadership entitled "This Is Where the Leadership Really Begins" based on a line from his favorite John Wayne film, The Cowboys. I watched the movie twice looking for insights for my program. The line with significance for me was Wil Anderson's (Wayne's character) comment to the boys he lead on the cattle drive. "Every man wants his children to be better than he is...you are." Specific, encouraging praise is a good leader's stock-in-trade. When was the last time you delivered that kind of praise to a child, a peer, or someone who calls you their leader? What are you waiting for? Change!
 

May 23
Memorial Day 2007

I especially look forward to Wednesday mornings. My husband, Frank, comes home from his walk with the day's edition of the USA Today. I immediately grab the Life section because Craig Wilson's column, The Final Word, is in it. I read it first with great pleasure. Today was no exception. He closed his column by writing, "Which is what this upcoming [Memorial Day] weekend is all about: remembering those who don't happen to be here anymore but most certainly are not gone." Wilson believes we keep people important to us alive by remembering them and their actions. I believe that, too. So in the midst of picnics, family, and food this weekend - find a quiet minute, remember someone of significance, and share their story. Both the recalling and the retelling will do you good.

Have a beautiful Memorial Day weekend!

May 17
Walking through the Minneapolis Airport, I noticed a restaurant sign for the first time. "All work and no play kinda misses the point." As we approach the summer season, I'd like to remind you to schedule some play. Next week, when I'm back in Minneapolis, I'll take a picture of it, post it on my blog so you can print it and hang it in an obvious place, just in case you need a visual reminder.

May 10
Wednesday I attended the 15th Annual Wausau YWCA Women of Vision Award lunch. The novelist Jacquelyn Mitchard spoke - telling of her early efforts as a novelist after the unexpected death of her young husband. When life creates that kind of a hole in you she said, "it doesn't give you permission to live a small or timid life." Those are inspiring words from someone who has the right to say them. They remind us all that if we've been small or timid in our lives, it's time to CHANGE!

May 2
My middle grandchild, Elroy, (No, it's not an old family name - yes, he was named after the little boy on the Jetsons!) is in love with Thomas the Tank Engine. We pay attention to all things train-ish. He loves the movie, The Polar Express. I like the part where the Conductor says, "The thing about trains...it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." Change is like that. There will be many times in your life when a change comes along that you're not certain about. It makes sense to evaluate your ability to affect the change. If you can't, maybe you should listen to the Conductor and decide how much running you want to do in order to finally jump on.

April 25
ast week I pre-ordered two copies of the 7th Harry Potter book due out this July. (In case you wondered, one is for me and one for my daughter - the person who makes sure you get this message every week, Miriam.) Our local bookstore, Jankes, will open at 11:00 pm the night they are released and start selling the books at midnight. I can't wait! In the 2nd book of the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Albus Dumbledore said, "It is not our abilities that tell us what we truly are...it is our choices." He is so wise. If we all thought about our choices - big and small - for the next week, I bet we'd all be making some changes.

April 18
Sunday marked the 60th anniversary of the day when the grandson of a slave, son of a sharecropper, Jackie Robinson, played baseball wearing a Brooklyn Dodger's uniform. Some thought it would end the game, some thought it was about time, and some remained indifferent to the whole thing. Everyone agreed it was a change. Here we are - 6 decades later. When a change is introduced, some will think it is the worst thing imaginable, some will think it's terrific, and some will try to believe it's nothing they need to think about. We each get the opportunity to choose which reaction is ours. Jackie, himself, challenges us with this. "Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life." A challenge that is as meaningful today as it was when first issued years ago.

April 11
Vanessa Redgrave was asked to share her feelings about reviews the week before she was scheduled to open the Broadway version of Joan Didion's award-winning book, The Year of Magical Thinking. "You can't," she said, "be striving to please - you must be striving to get to the heart of the matter." What are you striving toward these days? Are you focused on the heart of things?

April 4
Are you hooked on NPR like I am? I'm always thrilled when I'm in the car during All Things Considered. Right before the March Madness Final Four weekend, they interviewed legendary basketball coach, John Wooden. When asked about his game behavior, he explained that he mostly sat in a chair. He said to his team, "Don't look over at me - I prepared you during the week to do your job." What a great statement from a leader who's done his job right. Could you say the same thing?

March 28
Those of us who live in snow country get excited at the approach of spring. (I suppose those who live in milder climes do, too.) Ling Po suggests that, "He who neglects to drink of the spring of experience is likely to die of thirst in the desert of ignorance." This is a perfect time to change something. Winter is over! Take a walk. Send your winter clothes to the cleaners. Wear a bright color. Put a bunch of daffodils on your desk, or better yet, someone else's desk. Don't find yourself thirsty this summer!

March  21
My mother, June Blomberg (who would be unhappy if I revealed her age here), is a big fan of Alexandra Stoddard and shared this quote. "What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all of our tomorrows." I agree 100%. The best part is, once you accept this basic concept, when you change what you do today you will change what happens tomorrow. Cool!

March 14
A recent USA Today article about the relationships being built between Iraqi brigades and U.S. Advisors revealed that our soldiers are being urged to read a 1917 article written by T.E. Lawrence. (You'd probably recognize him as Lawrence of Arabia.) In this article Lawrence said, "Do not try to do too much with your own hands, better the Arabs do it tolerably than you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not win it for them." It occurred to me that this is a good model for all leaders. When we try to fix things for those who follow us, we block our follower's ability to learn and grow. This is a time that the leader's often have to change first!

March 7
A reader, Barbara Murray from the Financial Training Department at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote me recently about her long tenure in her job - 21 years. In her musings about being in a job she loves for an extended period she said, "your emails are a constant reminder that while you might not physically change your job - your mental outlook needs to remain on the move!" Quite frankly, I've always believed that opening your mind to change was the real point of all this change talk. Thanks, Barbara for seeing it through the same lens that I do.

February 28
Have you read books by Seth Godin? I find his view of the world fascinating and I've never been disappointed by any of his books. He was quoted in an article I read recently. "To succeed today, you have to do more than just be a little better at what you did yesterday. Why should we expect that the world will change in our favor?" Why, indeed?

February 22
My friend, Max Jaffe, called me from Houston and said, "Chris, it's Thursday and I haven't gotten my change message!" "Hey," I said back. "Just thought I'd toss a little change your way." My guess is you wouldn't buy that any more than Max did. I was bad and didn't get my message to Miriam in time for her to send it out to you, so I'll try to make up by sharing a really good one.

We don't get too many unsubscribe messages to this eLetter. People seem to enjoy its content and especially its brevity. But a few weeks ago we got a please-remove-from-this-list email. The email went like this. "Thank you...she no longer works for us...because she couldn't change..." I wonder how many people miss the connection between the ability to change and survival. Please don't let it be you!

February 14
Cards, flowers, candy - all Valentine's Day staples. Jackie Robinson reminds us that "A life isn't significant except for its impact on others." What if, to celebrate this year's day of love and connection, you worked on significance rather than surface. I bet you could write a more meaningful verse than Hallmark.

January 31
One of you sent me a note recounting an experience during a session on change. A participant signaled the speaker with a raised hand in order to ask a question. The presenter responded with, "Can you hold that question until later?" Okay, just think about it for a minute...

P.S. If you are part of an organization who has managed a big cultural change well and would be willing to talk to a client of mine about best practices, please email me back with your contact information. We'll both be grateful.

January 24
Keith Sawyer was explaining creativity when he said, "There are a lot more people who have the capacity than take the action of change. Maybe genius has an element of change in it." Any sentence that has the words change and genius in it catches my attention! How would you measure your capacity for change? My guess is that your capacity far exceeds your action. What if more change propelled you to genius status?

January 17
It must have been this time of the year when Anthony J. D'Angelo said, "The greatest gift you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention." After a holiday season where you've been focusing on the needs, wants, and demands of others, why not spend sometime on what YOU need to make this year you're best ever!

January 10
Frank and I watched Garrison Keillor's Great Performances special on PBS. It was a lovely way to spend New Year's Eve. (Of course, the bottle of Champagne didn't hurt either.) In a round about way it reminded me of Keillor's thoughts about funerals. "People say such nice things at funerals that it makes me sad to realize I'm going to miss mine by just a few days." Wouldn't it be lovely if we all resolved to say the nice things before the funeral so no one would miss them?

January 3
Going through the mail which had accumulated on my desk, I found a flyer announcing the closing of a knitting store in Eau Claire, WI called Threade Bear. The owner started her message with a quote from a friend of hers. "Sometimes to attain a dream, you have to give up another." Seems an appropriate thought to ponder this first week in January. If you have a change you're working on, have you decided what you're willing to give up in order to make space for your new possibility? It might be an action, a belief, or an attitude. Say goodbye so that you can say hello.

2006

December 20
Last night I sat in the driveway to hear the end of an interview on NPR's All Things Considered. Corey Booker, the mayor of Newark, NJ was reflecting on the advice he received from a voter, Miss Jones, who told him, "If you're one of those people who sees light and hope, then you can make change." I'm glad I braved the dark and cold of a Northern Wisconsin December night because that statement will live in my heart for all of 2007. I'm suggesting you might want to remember it also. 2007 - a year of light, hope, and change. Works for me!

December 13
I use my flying time wisely; I read. Last month, NWA World Traveler magazine had an interview with the legendary actress Ellen Burstyn who said, "I think the gift of life is just a miracle, and I don't see any reason not to be grateful for it." As we race into the holiday season, I believe that's a sentence worth remembering. May 2006 end in a spirit of gratitude for you and those you love.

December 6
After last week's debacle over my five-years late reporting of George Harrison's death, I am reminded of that wonderful quote, "Failure isn't falling down, it's refusing to get up." So, when my embarrassment allowed me to consider not sending a message this week, I figured this was a change message I needed to get myself! So, when Miriam sends it out Wednesday night I'll be printing this one out and hanging it next to my desk!

P.S. Thanks to all of you who, in good humor, wrote to highlight my error and laugh at our correction last week. It's great to have friends like all of you.

P.P.S. Special thanks to the subscriber who caught the inside joke of the I Blew It card sales line on the correction email!

November 29 Part One
George Harrison died today at 58; only 2 Beatles left. Some changes aren't easy to look at positively. This is one of them. As I heard the news, all I could think of was Harrison's song, "All Things Must Pass." Evidently that phrase even applies to cultural icons. I'm going to listen to some Beatles music tonight. Let It Be...

November 29 Part Two
When you listen to All Things Considered while making dinner for two of your grandchildren, you just might hear what you believe to be breaking news rather than a replay of a five-year old broadcast. You might then compose a heart-felt message, send it to your editor who is touched by your eloquence, and who then promptly sends your misinformation to 5,000 of your most understanding readers. Then you'd sit back, slightly proud of your night's work. Until, that is, one of your more informed readers sends said editor an email wondering just what you were thinking. Thanks to S.J. Christensen for the opportunity to craft and send out Change Part Two for November 29, 2006, the 5th Anniversary of George Harrison's death. Ah, the dangers of multi-tasking.

November 15
Recently my daughter, Miriam, accused me of going overboard about Starbucks. I've tried to explain that my Grande Breve Latte isn't essential for my happiness, but it's the Starbuck's experience that keeps me coming back. Now there's even another element that draws me across town or into the next terminal seeking the familiar green mermaid sign -  the stories on the cups. The Way I See It #154 was by Goapele, a musician on Starbuck XM radio. "Big things start small. Rather than getting overwhelmed with the thought of changing the world, there are small steps we can all take in our own lives and communities that can have real impact. Music is just one way of making change. What will you choose?" Hum a tune while you decide on your next, important, small step.

November 8
In an interview in USA Today, Johnny Depp (Don't you love his Jack Sparrow?) said, "If you don't sort of tread in the arena of fear, you won't move forward somehow." Words to remember when you are faced with change that makes the pit of your stomach quiver. There is a connection between conquering fear, doing something new, and forward movement. Or maybe you need to reflect on the flip side - there is a connection between being frozen by fear, doing the same old thing, and stagnation. From either perspective, there's a lesson in there.

November 1,
Last weekend was a wonderful mix of family, friends, and food. After our long Sunday Brunch, I was reminded of a quote I collected from a menu at Houlihans, "A meal is a whole lot more than food on a fork." There's been much media attention lately on the importance of children having meals as a family. To hear them tell it, if you all sit down at the table together and eat, grades will go up, behaviors will improve, and peace will reign in the family home. Don't think me cynical, but I'm afraid that the emphasis comes off on the food and forks rather than what happens when people sit at a table together - conversation and connectedness. Maybe there's a meal-time change in your future?

October 25
Never in my life did I think I'd be quoting Jerry Springer, especially to 5,000 plus people, but here I go. In a USA Today article about his run on Dancing With the Stars, Springer said, "Life is the only real dance. And you don't always get to choose your tune." My guess is that you could figure out why those sentences caught my attention without much of a comment from me, but I can't resist at least a few words. The next time life gives you a song you'd rather not dance to, sing one you do like - loudly - and dance to that one!

October 18
I've been lucky and have gotten a sneak peek of a just published book, Wake Me Up When the Data Is Over: How Organizations Use Stories to Drive Results edited by Lori L. Silverman. Many of you know about my love of stories, so I'm always thrilled to find a new place to learn about their impact, especially when there's a whole chapter devoted to CHANGE! Reading it, I found this to share with you. Leslie J. Berkes, Ph.D., director of Organizational Effectiveness said, "The meeting had to yield positive stories - every time you fail during a change effort you make the future possibility for change less likely." Made me wonder about the stories we choose to tell about our changes. What are the positive change stories you do, or could, tell?

P.S. Check the book out at amazon.com. They're offering some cool bonuses this week.

October 11
One of the things I like about Wednesdays is that the Life Section of USAToday carries Craig Wilson's The Final Word column. Last week's was about his brush with what he thought might be a heart attack and the subsequent trip to the hospital. While there he reflected on a comment by Anna Quindlen who said, "True success is getting up in the morning and realizing you have a very good life." Not a bad to thing to think about even without a trip to the hospital.

October 4
My desk is a mess! It's been a mess for a long time. I talk about it being a mess a lot. I resolve to get it organized every Monday. And every Friday. Recently I read Ben Buckley's thought, "The only way things change is when you start to do something." I hate knowing that!

We're only three days away from the JDRF Walk for the Cure in Stevens Point, WI and thanks to your generosity, we've collected $835.00. But there's still time if you want to help. Here's the way you can donate to fund the work that we're certain will find the cure for Type 1 diabetes.

If you would like to help us help Quinn, log on to http://walk.jdrf.org/ and make a donation to Team Q on-line.

1. Click this link: http://walk.jdrf.org/

2. Scroll down to the "Support a Walker" section

3. Fill in the "Support a Walker" boxes as follows - Last Name: Clarke, State: WI

4. Choose a walker - either Chris or Quinn

5. Choose the "Donate to this Walker" button, and you're on your way to supporting a great cause.

All donations are tax-deductible, but more importantly, even the smallest donation brings research one step closer to finding a cure.

The thought that if each of the over 5,000 of you who read this eletter donated $5.00 to this walk we'd be adding over $25,000.00 to the research fund - well, it takes my breath away!

Thanks for your consideration!

Chris

September 27
A dear friend, wonderful speaker, hospital Chairman of the Board, and terrific grandfather, Rick Jakle, sent me a quote from the end of an email he received from a  financier. "Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future... Faith is having the courage to dance to it today." It came at the time our family is preparing for our annual participation in the JDRF Walk for the Cure. Since our oldest grandson, Quinn, has juvenile diabetes our music of the future is a cure and we dance to that music faithfully everyday.

Because I believe with my whole heart that a cure is possible , my family and I will be joining others in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Saturday, October 7th for the 2nd Annual Central Wisconsin JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure Diabetes. We believe we can help raise enough money to fund the research to find the cure for juvenile diabetes and enable my grandboy, Quinn, to live his life free of finger pokes for blood sugar tests, lots of doctor appointments, and his I-only-take-it-off-for-football-and-soccer insulin pump. If you're in the neighborhood - join us!

A Once a Year Request: A very rare request for a donation ahead...feel free to ignore!

If you would like to help us help Quinn, log on to http://walk.jdrf.org/ and make a donation to Team Q on-line.

1. Click this link: http://walk.jdrf.org/

2. Scroll down to the "Support a Walker" section

3. Fill in the "Support a Walker" boxes as follows - Last Name: Clarke, State: WI

4. Choose a walker - either Chris or Quinn

5. Choose the "Donate to this Walker" button, and you're on your way to supporting a great cause.

All donations are tax-deductible, but more importantly, even the smallest donation brings research one step closer to finding a cure.

The thought that if each of the over 5,000 of you who read this eletter donated $5.00 to this walk we'd be adding over $25,000.00 to the research fund - well, it takes my breath away!

Thanks for your consideration!

Chris

September 20
At this summer's annual convention of the National Speakers Association, I went to a session on blogging. Oh, learning is a dangerous thing. Just about every time you learn something new, you have to change - a behavior, a thought process, or an action. I had to change my blog host.

So, after finally feeling pretty comfortable with the process at my first blogging host, I spent several days learning a new system. Check out the newest version at MoreChange.Typepad.com. I hope you'll link over there, see what I've written, and subscribe. I'm publicly promising to discipline myself to post more often and to keep learning about blogging. Any suggestions or tips from you will be eagerly read.

September 6
I was reading a New Yorker article by James Surowiecki - but don't ask me what it was about, I only tore out and kept the part that contained this line, "...but real meaning emerges only over the long term." This line caught my attention because we often forget this truth when we're dealing with change. It would be so much easier if the results of change were always immediate. Decide to eat less, wake up tomorrow 10 pounds lighter. Who wouldn't be able to stick to a diet if that happened? But real change emerges only over the long term. I'm certain the rest of Surowiecki's article was significant, but this line is enough for me to think about for the rest of the week.

August 30
Talk about change. Pluto isn't a planet any more! No big deal, except, of course, that sentence we all learned, "My very educated mother just sent us nine pizzas" doesn't work anymore and we spent so much time remembering it so we could be smart in front of our kids and grandchildren as we rattled off the names of the planets. That's the problem with change - one change forces us to start another. Fortunately, this time The Associated Press decided to put adults out of their misery quickly. Out of their six suggestions, I picked this one: My Very Extravagant Mother Just Sent Us Nachos. Not too much new to absorb so when Quinn does planets this year in First Grade, I should be okay.

P.S. As long time readers of this eletter know, I don't do this often or lightly, but there's a book I'd like you to check out. My friend, Sam Horn's newest book will be released on Sept. 5th. POP!: Stand Out in Any Crowd is being heralded as the next Tipping Point-like book - one that will change a reader's thinking forever. I've read it, worked with Sam's ideas, and they're terrific, practical, and fun. Check Sam and her book out at www.SamHornPOP.com and if it looks like it could help you and your business/organization, order your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite local bookstore. I guarantee you'll be glad you did!

August 23
At a recent program, there was a panel discussion before my presentation. In a burst of honesty, one of the panel members said, "I don't know if I have an ultimately positive attitude, but I do have an open mind." First, I applaud her willingness to admit that her attitude might need some work - don't we all have days when that's true! But mostly, I want to thank her for helping me see that working toward an open mind trumps trying to fix a bad attitude just about all the time. Next time you're faced with a change, before you check your attitude, look to see if your mind is open to the new possibilities.

August 17
I bet there was something new you told yourself you were going to do this summer and here it is almost first-day-of-school and you haven't. Don't think you'll have to put it off till next summer because there's not enough time to get good at it now. Murray Cohen reminds us, "The ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic by experts." Why not try something without the expertise you were going to develop so you wouldn't appear foolish or silly. Be an amateur at something between now and Labor Day, I dare you!

August 9
One of Miriam's favorite speakers, Rita Emmett, has a monthly eletter called THE ANTICRASTINATION TIP SHEET (to subscribe send a blank email to: tips-join@lists.ritaemmett.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject line or visit www.RitaEmmett.com to see some sample issues).

The August edition starts with Anna Quindlen's words of wisdom, "I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." How could I disagree since both of my children have houses full of books. So many people fool themselves into thinking that they don't have time to read. Like so much in life, time allocation is choice. How about buying a book for the child in you and reading this weekend?

August 2
Talking to my mother as I drove south yesterday I was reminded of a comment by my favorite Episcopal priest, Robert Winter. Fr. Winter said, "Love is a verb, not a noun." Love isn't about saying, although there's nothing wrong with nice words - lovingly delivered, love is about doing. I bet all of us have a person in our lives who would benefit from our doing.

P.S. If you read to the end of last's weeks message you found the note from Miriam, my daughter, who manages the process behind these messages, explaining that she wrote it because I was at the National Speakers Association Annual Conference. Talk about love as doing! Thanks, Miriam. (You're welcome! -M)

July 26
I don't know in what context Abraham Lincoln said, "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax," but I imagine it was because he was faced with a tremendous task to be accomplished under deadline. And he understood that time spent in preparation is not time wasted, it's time spent towards accomplishing your goal. Lincoln was pretty good at seeing the big picture, and I, for one, trust his opinion.

July 19
As a recent audience taught me, no matter how people feel about the Dixie Chicks politically, they're mostly willing to agree that these women can write good music. On their current album, Taking the Long Way, there is a song called, I Hope. One of the lines struck a chord with me. "I may not have all the answers, but I hope." I feel exactly the same way. I refuse to let anyone or anything take away my hope for the future. I am a grandmother, you know.

July 12
Summer conjures up memories of childhood - long afternoons with nothing but time, swimming and sunburn, and lemonade stands that generate money for the ice cream truck. According to Abraham Sutzkever, "If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older." So, here's an idea. Take an hour this week and do something that is absolutely summer as a child for you. You'll be better for it!

July 5
Yesterday's edition of the advice column Annie's Mailbox contained this quote from Albert Einstein, "Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom." No matter how confining your work might seem, we all have much more personal freedom to be creative than we realize. Open your eyes to the possibilities!

June 28
I was reading Watercooler Wisdom by Keith Barley and Karen Leland and in the chapters about change found something to share with you. "Smart people know the secret to a successful stretch is finding a deeply personal motivating factor." This summer might be a perfect time for you to pick one thing that you've been meaning to change for a long time, dig deep for a reason to do it, and stretch. You might just surprise yourself at how limber you can get.

June 21
Imagine my surprise when, while walking down an aisle in Barnes and Noble, I saw a line of notepads festooned with change comments on their covers. The one that caught my eye enough to carry it to the checkout counter said, "Life without change is boring." Think about it. At what moment in your life would you choose to freeze frame and say, "I don't want anything different for the rest of my life!"? Sure, for a short time we all have times that approach I-like-it-just-the-way-it-is perfection, but forever? Life without change would be boring! As Lily Tomlin's Edith Ann used to say, "And that's the truth!" (You add the raspberries.)

P.S. Speaking of Lily Tomlin...If you're a Prairie Home Companion fan, don't miss the currently running movie, A Prairie Home Companion. Frank and I had date night last Friday, saw it, and now are eagerly awaiting the DVD so we can watch it again and catch the lines we missed while laughing!

June 14
Watching an old episode of The Golden Girls I heard Dorothy say to Rose, "If you take a chance in life sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen. If you don't take a chance nothing happens." If you're not willing to change, there is no possibility of improvement! The Girls shared a lot of wisdom in their kitchen sharing a cheesecake.

June 7
A day like today in Northern Wisconsin is perfect for a motorcycle ride. (If, that is, you wanted to go for a motorcycle ride.) And if you're going to ride a motorcycle in Wisconsin, it ought to be a Harley. I've never actually had the urge, although my son Paul did take me for a ride once on his - long story, short ride. My friend Marilynn Mobley (check out her wonderful blog www.remainrelevant.blogspot.com) sent me a quote from the Harley CEO and for the first time I understood the change from car to cycle. "What we sell," he said,"is the ability for a 43-year-old accountant to dress in black leather and ride through small towns and have people be afraid of him."

May 31
A Thinking for a Change reader, Suzanne Keely from the American Society for Quality, sent me this line from Wayne Dyer's recent book, The Power of Intention. "Change the way you look at things and things you look at change." Pay attention to Dyer's theory this week and you'll see just how true it is. Thanks Suzanne!

May 24
Making plans for the summer? You might want to factor in the musings of Elbert Hubbard. "No man needs a vacation as much as the one who just had one." Grin if you like, but he is right!

May 17
So, do you envision me walking around with little pieces of paper in my pockets with quotes scribbled on them? Close! Sometimes I find the quotes but can't remember where they came from. This is one of those. In an unknown venue I heard Zbigniew Brzezinski say, "Uncertainty is not a reason for inaction." Something to think about when a change is started.

May 10
In his book, The Learning Paradox, Jim Harris said, "We significantly underestimate the amount of time and effort required to change." Rather than finding that depressing I find it hopeful. A realistic concept of difficultly avoids discouragement and supports sustained effort. Maybe this quote needs to be posted somewhere in your workplace.

May 3
Doing some research for a program recently I ran across this quote from Rob Reich, a college professor. "Change must come from within even when spurred on from the outside." If more organizations figured that out, I'd be out of business. Change is always emotional and ultimately personal. No wonder people find it tough to change and change initiatives fail.

April 26
I have admired Kenny Roger's work for many years. He has re-invented himself time after time, thus ensuring his constant success in the highly fickle music industry. During an interview on CBS Sunday Morning he said, "I think it's emotionally very dangerous to not have something else you're passionate about." People who master change search for and nurture their passions. What are you going to do this summer to develop a new passion?

April 19
Miriam, who makes these messages appear in your inbox each week, called me with the following quote by Wendy Smedley in Simple Scrapbooks magazine.

"According to the gurus at Home Depot, the majority of home improvement projects are abandoned when they're 90 percent complete. By this time, homeowners frequently are fed up with their projects and anxious to move on. That unfinished 10 percent, however, typically comprises the finishing touches that make the project took polished and professional."

Is this behavior you recognize in your self? Are you leaving some 10% finishing work undone that makes people view you as less polished and professional than you really are? Are you willing to challenge yourself to change?

April 12
In Robert Penn Warren's All the Kings Men, Warren wrote, "If you don't go back and accept your past, you can't go forward." I believe that applies to change as well as life. Change that moves you forward can't happen unless you understand what shaped you in the past.

April 5
Thinking for a Change reader Lianne Van Wyhe sent me this quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach. "Lasting change does not happen overnight. Lasting change happens in infinitesimal increments: a day, an hour, a minute, a heartbeat at a time." In a society that increasingly expects instant everything, this is a quote worth remembering! Thanks from us all, Lianne!

March 29
"Why is it that the simplest plans are sometimes the hardest to do?" wrote Laurell K. Hamilton in one of her off-beat mysteries. All of my unfinished to-do lists reinforce her insight. Action is always the hard part of the change equation.

March 22
This quotation might be worth thinking about if you need to move a group into change. Margaret J. Wheatley said, "Real change begins with the simple act of people talking about what they care about." A smart first step could be a time and place for the group to gather and begin a dialogue about what would be important outcomes for their change initiative. You might be surprised how people will take ownership and how excitement could build!

March 16
I love watching the CBS Sunday Morning news show. This last Sunday it contained an interview with Steve Winwood about his 40 year musical career. At the very end of the interview, the reporter asked about Winwood's obsession with music. Winwood replied, "I suppose the thing that very first started to drive me when I was 13 or 12 or 9 (was) a love of music, and I enjoy playing it. I'm discovering more about music all the time." The reporter observed, "It almost sounds like he couldn't stop if he wanted to." "I don't think so," Winwood responded.

What about what you do for a living? Is it your obsession? Was it your obsession at one time? What will you be saying about your work after 40 years? If you don't have a Steve Winwood connection to your work, could it be time for a change? Just asking!

March 8
Jessica Andreae, CPA, ARM, at Sentry Insurance reminded me that children - including her 6 year old daughter - and the young at heart, all over the world are celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday. I bet you didn't know he was an expert on change! Here's the excerpt she shared from Green Eggs & Ham.

        "Try it." - "No."
        "Try it." - "No."
        "Try it this way, how about that way, what about this way?" - "No. No. No."
        And so it goes.  On and on
        "OK, fine.  To shut you up, I will try it.  Hey!  I like it!  Thanks so much!"

Thanks Jessica and Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

March 1
Next time you go into a Starbucks and order, read your cup before you throw it away. Each cup has a The Way I See It essay. Last week I got cup #76 and thought of you. Anne Morriss, a Starbucks' customer in New York City wrote, "The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as a rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as a barrier to your life." How could a real commitment make a difference in one of your changes?

February 22
Maybe you've been working really hard on a change and NO ONE'S NOTICED! Mark Twain has an idea perfect for this situation. "When you cannot get a compliment in any other way, pay yourself one." So, duck into the bathroom - face yourself in the mirror - and give yourself a big pat on the back. (If I were there with you, I'd give you the pat myself!)

February 15
I was reading an essay by Ellen Goodman and perked up when I read, "The most powerful catalyst for change, sociologists will tell you, is when people learn what they already know." What do you already know about a change you need to initiate? Since you know it, why not get to work on it?

February 8
Okay, let's be honest. There's a change somewhere in your life - maybe work, maybe home - and you're thinking if you just hold on maybe it will go away. It's not that you're not participating, you're just not participating at 100% You really should consider what Hsun Tzu said. "The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere." There is a time when you simply have to pick a road!

February 1
This week we mourn the passing of Coretta Scott, who's life as a talented music student certainly changed when she met, loved, and married Martin Luther King, Jr. In a CNN interview, the Reverend Al Sharpton quoted Mrs. King as saying, "One of the things you must do is change yourself if you want to lead others through change." An important thought to ponder as we remember a legend of significant change in the United States.

January 25
Be honest - if there's a change you've been resisting, ask yourself how much time you have spent learning the reasons behind it. Or, did you hear about the change, decide you didn't like it, and put up the wall? Andre Gide suggest that, "Understanding is the beginning of approving." Maybe more understanding could turn your resistance into support.

January 18
I am part of a Mastermind group; we call ourselves The Seven Sisters. One of the sisters, and noted writer, Sam Horn (keep her newest book POP! in mind - I'll let you know the release date because you'll want to buy it) reminded me of Gail Sheehy's wisdom. "Changes are not only possible and predictable, but to deny them is to be an accomplice to one's own unnecessary vegetation." Sometimes because we focus on how hard it is to change, we forget that it is not changing that is dangerous both personally and professionally. Look around, make sure there isn't a change you're denying!

P.S. Thanks to all of you who sent me a Lightbulb joke or pointed me to a website...who knew there are a million of them! I've been giggling all week.

January 11
Rosabeth Moss Kanter said, "To stay ahead, you must have your next idea waiting in the wings." I couldn't agree more. A new idea sparks energy, excitement, and even more creativity. Our next idea at Chris Clarke-Epstein SPEAKING! is Change101.com. We're putting together new programs, a new website, and line of ancillary products all focused on the impact of change on our personal and professional lives. We'll keep you posted as this change unfolds.

Right now you can help us get started. Our icon is going to be a lightbulb and we're looking to collect lightbulb jokes. You know,
        Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?
        A: One, but the lightbulb has to want to change.

Want to be part of this change? Send your favorite lightbulb joke to me and I'll be eternally grateful!

January 4
Here we go again - asking each other about New Year's Resolutions. 9 times out of 10 the response has to do with less food or more exercise. Don't get me wrong, either of them make fine resolutions. I'm just not certain they're anything but a knee-jerk response to a canned question. Erica Jong had a thought when she said, "And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Maybe this is the year to resolve BIG!

Want more insights about change? Check out Chris' new blog www.MoreChange.blogspot.com

2005

December 28
Bonnie Prudden offered a thought that seems to me to be perfect for end-of-the-year pondering. "You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again." Exactly! Every January 1st we get a clean slate, another opportunity for doing things differently. Don't pass up this chance to do your future differently than your past.

May 2006 be filled with changes you initiate, dreams you realize, and people you love.

Want more insights about change? Check out Chris' new blog www.MoreChange.blogspot.com

December 21
No matter what holiday you observe, this is the time of the year that just about everyone has a reason to celebrate. Hamilton Wright Mabi said, "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." I'm not a person who looks for conspiracy theories, but this one works for me. How about joining me in plotting ways to be cheerful, saying thanks, and spreading joy from now till the end of the year. Just don't tell anyone you're doing it. Let them try to figure out what's going on. Who knows, we could start something!

Happiest of Holidays from me and the people I love to you and the people you love.

Check out Chris' 2005 success with her Grandkids: http://www.chrisclarke-epstein.com/images/photos/swedes.jpg. She actually got all three of them to wear the Swedish Horse pajamas she found and then got them to sit together long enough for this picture!

December 14
Okay, it's the season of more commercials and catalogs than you could imagine and it's easy to get cynical and Scrooge-like. Please resist, especially around children. If you're unhappy with the way your children (or the children you love and influence) are acting during this holiday season, reflect on what Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis said, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much." What are you doing to expose the children in your life the real meaning of the season you celebrate? Maybe this would be a good time to review your holiday plans and add some unexpected activities for yourself with those kids you love that will emphasize the real lessons you'd like them to learn before this year ends.

December 7
Ann Young from Sentry sent me a line from the Bon Jovi song, Have a Nice Day. "Don't ask the past to last; it's about to change." I think I'll take a trip to the iTunes store. A line like that needs to be in my iPod. Thanks, Ann.

November 30
The month of December seems to remind many of us of all the things we were going to change in the year that is now almost gone. Martin Luther King, Jr. has some great advice, "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Even in the 12th month of the year there is time to take some first steps. I know it's tempting to wait until January - resist!

November 23
Can you believe it's Thanksgiving already! Before you pop the turkey and the green bean casserole in the oven, you might want to think of a comment in a column by Mary Schmich. "Life is mostly habit. So now's the time to figure out which habits you want to cultivate to carry you through the rest of it." If you're brave, it could be a great conversation starter when the family's all gathered.

November 16
Do you ever watch Clean Sweep? It is a show on TLC where couples are assisted by a decorator, carpenter, and professional organizer to get their very, very messy houses in order. In a recent episode, the organizer quoted Joseph Campbell, "We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." I believe Campbell is reminding us that if you want to grow, you're going to have to change. It's a package deal.

Want more insights about change? Check out Chris' new blog www.MoreChange.blogspot.com

November 11
A former client used to introduce me as "a consultant who had a real job." Back in my corporate days I remember how adverse most organizations were (and are) to boat-rocking behavior. The problem is that without a little rocking of the boat, nothing changes. G.K. Chesterton said, "I believe in getting in hot water, it keeps you clean." I like that perspective. I think its helpful during times of change.

November 2
Every culture has proverbs, words to think about and live by. Here's a Chinese proverb that is a favorite of mine. "The person who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." If there's a mountain that is casting a shadow in your life, look for a small stone you could carry to a new position. See, when you initiate it, change just sounds like a good idea.

October 26
This week we heard of the death of Rosa Parks whose 1955 refusal to give up a seat in the front of a city bus to a white man changed the United States forever. For years the story was told that she refused to move because she was tired. She, however, refuted that motivation, saying she refused because she was tired of having to move to the back of the bus! Over the years she continued to charm those she meet with her quiet, serene humility. A few months ago I reminded you of a famous Margaret Mead quote, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Rosa Parks made me remember this quote in a vivid way. Never underestimate the power you have to make change!

October 19
Are you a leader? It has been my observation that leaders don't realize how deeply they influence others in their organization and that often they need to change their attitudes. Dwight Eisenhower, when he was a General in the US Army, said, "Optimism and pessimism are infectious and they spread more rapidly from the head downward than in any other direction." Now that I think about it, it applies to individuals as well as leaders. Does your optimism level need a change?

October 12
Okay, here's another side of change. You jumped on the bandwagon, embraced the change with grace and flair and then...a better change came along! Rats!

I love technology and couldn't wait to get an iPod, but I did. Waited through the first ones with battery problems and limited memory. Waited till the photo ones were released so I could carry music AND the grandkid's pictures. I've been happy with my purchase for what, all of 6 months? Today Apple announced the release of their NEW iPod which will carry videos (video as in TV shows and movies). If you miss LOST tonight, tomorrow you'll be able to download the episode from the iTunes music store. I want to change and it will only cost me another $299.00.

That's the thing about change - it doesn't end. It just continues. Sometimes it's unexpected and hard. Sometimes it's planned and easy. Sometimes it's fast and fun. Sometimes it's fast and heart breaking. You can pick any of the previous descriptors and mix and match them to accurately describe a change you've been through. Add envy and expensive and I'll apply it to my change feelings about iPods today.

October 5
If you've ever needed a rationale for change, listen to Peter Drucker. "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." What's an efficiently done but no longer needed thing you've been doing? Got enough courage to follow Drucker's advice and change?

September 28
I find quotes for this eletter everywhere, including books about knitting! Look what I found in At Knit's End. "Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent," says Marilyn Von Savant. Change is like that too. The fact that a change doesn't work right off the bat isn't proof that it is a bad change. If you give up, you'll never know if it was good or not.

September 22
I know this eletter is about change, but it occurs to me that where there is change there is also a perception of conflict. Doug Floyd reminds us, "You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note." Good reminder. When we fear conflict we may be cheating ourselves out of the potential for beautiful music.

September 14
How are you feeling these days? What about right now? Walt Whitman urged us to be happy. "Happiness...not in another place, but this place, not for another hour, but his hour." Try it - happy for the next hour. Who knows, it might just change something!

September 7
This is a hard week to write about change. We have certainly seen change in its most difficult manifestation. I didn't really want to write this week's issue and had almost decided to give myself a week off, when I read the following comments in yesterday's USA Today. Mary Salassi, 66 of Metairie, LA told a reporter, "I'm not going to worry about it. You can't go back and look at what happened. You have to go forward...My life's upside down, but I will come back." Faced with change we can't even imagine, Mary is willing to look ahead and come back. Can we do any less?

Some of you may know that I have a close personal relationship with the City of New Orleans going back over 30 years. I wrote my first book while temporarily living in the French Quarter. For a little more about that, please read Dads and Magic, an excerpt from Simple Encounters, http://www.chrisclarke-epstein.com/pdf/dad_magic.pdf

August 31
Before she died of ovarian cancer, Gilda Radner said, "Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment, and making the most of it without knowing what's going to happen." She learned this lesson the hard way. Why don't we learn it from her?

August 23
Don't you love hanging out in the greeting card section of a store? You might predict that I like to giggle at the funny lines and read the quotes for possibilities for this eletter. So imagine my delight in finding a whole line of cards with quotes from Maya Angelou. "If you don't like something - change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." I like a woman who is straight to the point!

August 17
Ran across a Swedish Proverb the other day and since I'm of Swedish descent it caught my attention. "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow." It occurred to me that more people practice the latter half of the proverb than the first. Why not make it a goal to change that? For the next week share joy - on purpose - as often as possible! See if it changes anything for others or for you!

August 10
In a recent Sunday column, Anna Quindlen explored the conversations around appointments to the Supreme Court. In the middle of her thought-provoking, even-handed essay, she wrote about those who have been appointed to the Court in the past, "Frequently they grow and change, in part, because that is what significant people do throughout their lives..." I aspire to be a significant person, how about you?

August 3
Being the one who instigates, or expresses excitement about a big change is often tough when others don't view the change in the same way. Mary Wollstonecraft said, "Those who are bold enough to advance before the age they live in must learn to brave censure." Boy, bold and brave in the same sentence. This change stuff takes courage.

July 27
Have you read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince yet? What's taking you so long? Near the end, Dumbledore is talking to Harry about fear and it made me think of the part of change that causes fear. "There is nothing to be feared from a body, Harry, any more than there is anything to be feared from the darkness...It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more." Allow me to paraphrase, "It is the unknown we fear when we look upon change, nothing more." Everyone needs a Dumbledore once and a while.

July 21
Seen the movie, Six Days, Seven Nights? It's a great light, romantic comedy. I re-watched it last week and was struck by a line from Harrison Ford's character, Quinn. He said, in response to a question about coming to this breathtakingly beautiful vacation spot looking for something, "It's an island, babe. If you didn't bring it here, you won't find it here." Seems like it applies to so much else - life, work, relationships, change. If you don't bring it along with you - you won't find it. Worth thinking about today, don't you think?

July 13
Putting a program together last week, I remembered a Margaret Mead quote. "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." What needs to be changed in your world and who will be thoughtful with you?

July 6
Today, when I was supposed to be working on the stack of stuff on my desk, I was instead reading Sara Paretsky's new V.I. Warshawski mystery, Fire Sale. Set in Chicago, my birthplace, her books are terrific. I love her characters, her social commentary, and her well-plotted stories. At the end of this one, V.I.'s friend and doctor, Lotty shares something she learned from her Jewish grandfather. "I did learn from my zeyde that you must live in hope, the hope that your work can make a difference in the world. Yours does, Victoria." Allow me to tell you that in the midst of change, you too must live in hope, especially the hope that your work makes a difference in the world - because it does.

Speaking of hope, nothing feels more like hope than a baby and this week we added a new baby to our family. Please help us welcome Josephine to the world. Coming next week, a link to pictures of Josie with her proud older brother, Quinn.

June 30
Going on a vacation this summer? Pay attention to Ray Goodman's comment, "Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination." Maybe you could print it out and paste it on your dashboard or on your plane ticket jacket. It could make all the difference in the memories you keep from the summer of 2005!

June 23
Last week I wrote about the butterfly that my mom and I found in the parking lot. For some reason it has lingered in my mind - actually I want to know what happened to it. It looked so fragile paused in the middle of a country store parking lot with trucks pulling in and out. I bet it didn't last long. Charles Darwin probably wouldn't agree with my pessimistic view. He said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptive to change." What are your survival chances these days?

June 16
Today my mother and I had lunch out in the country. As we walked to the car we noticed a butterfly sunning itself on the gravel in the parking lot. It reminded me of the anonymous quote I've had in my notebook for a while, "If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies." Maybe the next time you feel cranky about a change you could look for the butterfly that I'm certain lurks just out of sight.

June 8
As we rush into the summer season and the family gatherings it almost always heralds, you might want think about this observation from Ingrid Bergman. "Happiness is good health and bad memory." Maybe forgetting some things would allow you to change your attitude and have a happy gathering. Just an idea.

June 1
Did you have a great Memorial Day weekend? Sometimes people think, because I am such a champion of change, I must not be into traditions. If you had seen me attack the brats and potato salad this weekend you would have let that opinion go quickly. I'm with John Foster Dulles who said, "A capacity to change is indispensable. Equally indispensable is the capacity to hold fast to what is good." In my opinion, wisdom is knowing which is the right action.

May 25
We gathered as a family for dinner at the newly opened Change's Garden and wouldn't you know that I got the fortune cookie that read, "Change is happening in your life, so go with the flow." Grandboy Quinn said, "That's a good one, Ahma." This change stuff follows me everywhere!

To all of you who made a contribution to the JDRF walk, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You can still contribute at www.jdrf.org. Look for a walker in Wisconsin by searching under the last name of Clarke. I'll report our totals in two weeks, 'cause we're still getting donations, but I can report that we all made it for the whole 3 miles. WOW!

May 16
I have joined the millions of other iPod owners. I'm still working on loading it with my favorite music - I'll keep you posted on functionality. The cool factor alone is worth the price! Makes me want to remind you of an Apple ad from a while back. "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."

Because I believe this with my whole heart, my family and I will be joining 3000 others in Neenah, Wisconsin, this Saturday for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure Diabetes. We believe we can help raise enough money to fund the research to find the cure for juvenile diabetes and enable my grandboy, Quinn, to live his life free of blood sugar tests, doctor appointments, and his new blue-so-it-must-be-Spiderman insulin pump. If you're in the neighborhood - join us!

May 11
In Anne Lamott's wonderful new book, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, she says, "I know that with writing, you start where you are, and you flail around for a while, and if you keep doing it, every day you get closer to something good." True of writing and true of most behavior change. The challenge is to keep going when you're in the flailing stage, remembering that you're making progress toward something good!

May 4
At a recent conference I heard Wisconsin's Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton say, "The status quo is more dangerous than a leap into the unknown." If you work for an organization that's not up to its eyeballs in change - watch out! If you're not pushing yourself to incorporate change into both the big and small things in your life - watch out! Admit it - if you had to pick, jumping would be better than being stuck.

April 27
Why is it that you find a quality TV show, get hooked on it, and then the network threatens to not renew it for the next season? Joan of Arcadia is like that for me. (Sounds like the Change Guru is grumbling about change with those sentences!) In a recent episode, a priest said to Joan's mother. "Confession only works if it's accompanied by change." Raised as a Lutheran, his kind of confession is a mystery to me, but his statement rings true. There's not much sense in saying, "I'm sorry," unless you intend to behave differently.

April 20
Watching CNN's coverage of the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma bombing, I heard one of the survivors say, "Nothing we do can change the past, but everything we do can change the future." What a wonderful affirmation learned at