Small Things

There's this concept, outlined beautifully in Malcolm Gladwell's book Tipping Point, about how little things can make big differences.

What if more people could grow their own produce, or afford the better, organically grown stuff served up in gourmet stores like Whole Foods? What if this led to people being a bit healthier, more immune to illness, and more fit? What if being more fit led to people exercising a bit more, increasing their "happy hormones" and being happier, calmer people in general? Could we surmise that there might be a bit less violence, road rage, etc? Maybe, healthier people wouldn't need so much insurance, or so many doctor's visits.

Here's another example. What if neighborhoods inspired beauty, even where low-income families lived? What if there were some vines, flowers, trees and grass to sit on? What if the Projects that might have inspired desperation and hopelessness, uplifted people a bit? Might they also feel better about themselves? More capable to improve their life's circumstances? What if these people got involved in community outreach groups that instilled lessons of self-reliance, hope, community and faith? What if these people inspired students and youngsters to stay in school, to go to the library after school, to get involved in their local neighborhood and city governments? What if these governments became more responsive to communities in need, and people didn't feel neglected? What if this all led to safer streets, where kids and adults could play and walk? Might these people also stave off the effects of obesity, adult on-set diabetes and other health issues?

Here's my point: what if all we needed to do to better the world was to keep at the smaller things. To attend to them carefully and with lots of observation. What if we could improve these things which would systemically improve other things.

I think we need to stop looking at life as if it were a series of lines; as if part A only affected parts B and C. Life doesn't work that way. I think life is more wholistic and connected than that. We need to start looking at life as if one thing affects everything else and vice versa. Part A affects parts G and Z of life. Changing one affects 30 other different life aspects.

I am a proponent of experimentation, study, observation and making little changes to lead to larger ones. Malcolm Gladwell is my prophet and I hope to practice, in some way, the concept that small things lead to a tipping point, a major point of change, where anything is possible.