Twack's Kitchen Cabinet (I Could Use Your Help)
Being one who isn't adverse to stopping and asking for directions, therefore being one of the 'few' I have decided to ask for help. Twack's kitchen cabinet is my attempt at trying to make some sense of a question I asked myself. Unwittingly, opening a can of worms that, as yet, seems to have no end.
Anyone who has read, listened to or watched Tony Robbins, might have come across one of his sessions where he talked about his own 'Kitchen cabinet'. Basically he had reached a point in his life. Though successful, he was beginning to question his 'direction' along with many other things. He decided to ask some of his friends, who were all successful in their own right, to meet with him, so that they could collectively 'hash it out'
You are my friends and I have a deep-seated admiration and respect for you all. So I would like to invite you to help me and be part of this 'kitchen cabinet' I could really use some different perspectives and views.
I am also aware that time is a premium for all of us, so any input, long or short, will be most welcome. If you prefer to do a rain check and PM me at a later stage, I'm up for that. Anything and everything is welcome.
Background would be good, I guess. Or actually, you might want to know the question I asked myself. Bit of both then.
Of late, I have been working on various articles/posts that are in alignment with some of my own core beliefs, in regard to certain things that are present in the world. You know the kind of stuff, war, famine, poverty, homelessness, climate change, renewable energy, recycling, global warming etc. All the small stuff. The list does indeed go on but this was just to give you an idea of what I'm on about.
Just as a side bar to add weight to the legitimacy of my intent. I'm currently working on an article about homelessness. I'm 1500 words into it and I am finding that it could do with being a book rather than a post. I mean you've got poverty, burn-out, abuse, psychological, war, natural disaster, choice, to name but a few.
All of the above are areas I would like to explore over the coming months and probably years. As you can see already, it really is a never ending supply of content ideas that need addressing. So, the question I asked myself was this.
Why do we not take action ?
Now, before some of you decide that my question is unfair, remember I am asking myself, so I include myself as one of those. In fact, I'm not actually talking about 'us' as individuals, more as a collective.
If you read my post of the other day, where I described my lunchtime discussion with friends, well this was the question that started the debate and gave me two pages of notes. Which was brilliant but it did mean that I had to redress the whole thing. Initially I wanted to do just one article. After the conversation we had finished, it became apparent that I was wholly under prepared and that one post wasn't going to cut it. Hence, why we're here now.
So, the disclaimer, which hopefully adds guidance, is that I know we all 'do' something. We might be trying to reduce our carbon footprint, live a 'greener' lifestyle. Donate regularly to various good causes. Recycle more and buy more 'thoughtfully'. Walk rather than drive. Again the list goes on as to what we do as individuals or families.
See if this helps explain it better. When I asked the question, the first responses I had back were these:
It's someone else's problem.
No trust.
Hands are tied.
Won't happen overnight.
The above was said in the first five minutes, so you can see how the discussion just grew exponentially from there.
Just putting it out there, I think that as a species, we struggle to think past a generation. Our children, yes definitely. Their children, sure. Our children's children, still a yes. Great grandchildren ? just about hanging in there. After that, all bets are off.
We covered loads in the hour we had. Sometimes we came up with solutions to various issues and then wondered why, if we could agree on a course of action that in our minds seemed to have 'legs', why was it that those in a position to afford change were not doing the same. Of course, it's a given that we neither have the expertise or knowledge of certain areas and are in fact just 'Joe Bloggs' but it did make us wonder, if there was more to it than met the eye.
I think that's it. If I write more then I will probably start going round in circles and maybe muddy the waters. Hopefully you get what I'm on about. If it helps, just imagine we're sat round a table having a chat, you know, putting the world to rights.
My children went through school and one of the things that they were taught to use, as a tool, was something called a 'Mind Map'. Take a piece of paper and write your topic in the centre. Then you just keep adding your thoughts about the subject around the central idea and draw a line connecting them together. Needless to say my own mind map will need to be made up of more than one piece of paper.
Last thought before I go and leave you. I was just explaining to my youngest (16) what this post was about, after he'd asked what I was writing. The end result was that we did a quick online search, as I had said it would be impossible for me to collate all the information that is out there on the web. The search results were interesting on just one of the subject matters covered. Here they are.
Search:
What is climate change About 1,140,000,000 results (0.52 seconds)
What is global warming About 172,000,000 results (0.45 seconds)
How can we stop climate change About 799,000,000 results (0.51 seconds)
How can we stop global warming About 106,000,000 results (0.56 seconds)
Like I said, I might struggle to read through most of the material out there on the web.
Have a wonderful Friday and weekend if I don't see you before.
Recent Comments
29
Hi, Twack, try not to beat yourself up, just going with one read of your post. Sometimes I struggle to keep pace with what you are writing. In a closed environment, it may work in the wider internet space, challenged readers can put their little cars in reverse and go search somewhere else.
Help me out who is Tony Robbins when he's at home?
Not trying to be facetious, the time is changing and we need to change along with it. Quid pro quo used to be the global currency.
Not today!
I may be off the mark, but from your words, you are in the same life raft as many. Challenged by what we perceive we are facing and held by our cultural and historical influences and experiences.
Wanting to break free yet held with a massive anchor.
Nothings going to change bar for the change that we create.
I think when we land in the online world we have this vision that we are going to set the world on fire. Looking at WA as a microcosm of the total online communities and realities.
That is far away from the truth as the north and south poles.
Very few make that breakthrough, where everything they touch turns to gold. Just as it is in the real world. Even then every dog has its day and making that realization that we need to change can be the dividing line between mediocrity and greatness.
Leaders are not born but forged in the tempest of the battle.
If it comes easy it does not last, history can be my witness.
From your search results, in each instance there are only ten results of influence, they may portray, the correct information?
They may be a relative representation of all the possibilities?
Yes or No.
Or are they a representation that best reflects our advertising profile as perceived by the Google algorithm.
In other words, we get what they think we should see and what best suits their advertising objectives.
I sense that you are at the crossroads of your online journey.
Do we make like the light brigade and charge on into our future.
Or do we step back, think about it, in saying that don't overthink it, rather create a sense of our destiny and then start to work towards creating and seizing the potentiality of our present.
One thing that we all share is that we are all challenged,
some folks just go with the flow and do not seek change that has how it has always been.
Some folks strikeout and depending on where they are in the life flow cycle do start to take action based on their locality and age representation.
It is the job of today's youth to challenge what was and what is today. It is part of their job description.
What about all the rest of us that are caught in the middle. To make and create the change we need to be strong.
That is the dilemma we all face.
From what you have written here your crossroads are about making that decision to commit, in a rhetorical fashion that is, not winning your war.
As we know wars are won one battle at a time.
We can not be across everything, we can drill down and focus on one aspect at a time.
Energy expended does create a reaction it is the way of the universe, for want of expression.
So where is your point of entry, you can not do everything and do it justice, if you could you would not belong, or be in this realm.
From your words, I smell a boomer website brewing in, Twack's Kitchen. He just has to make the commitment, and stop chasing after every reflection.
The thing riding in our favor is that we have the knowledge and resources to create and generate massive out of WA, we are only limited by our imaginations.
It is within us all, the limitation is us and the breakthrough happens when we make that commitment to claim our destiny.
The future is unwritten, we can write and create it.
Apologies, for the lengthy reply and in no way was this designed to offend, you asked I answered.
Looking forward to following your signature dish,when it sees the light of day.
Alex.
Hi Alex,
First, no offence taken or even suspected, just your thoughts which I always enjoy.
I am just about to head out for a day of delivering cosmetics with my dearly beloved. I no longer have the luxury of a 'month' I live on a three week campaign turnaround, eighteen times a year.
I have read thorugh your response three times already and will come back later and read through once again, if not more.
For now, it's just a thank you for taking the time to read, think about and respond.
I will be back later 'in full'
Enjoy your day.
I'm back, I have been taken, stripped, washed and dragged back to the tent, ready and willing to engage.
Nothing above could I disagree with. Some I might unwillingly acquiesce to.
The crossroads seems more like the roundabout of The Arc De Triomphe, with twelve possible exits.
Find a cause and focus on that, don't spread yourself to thinly.
Change can indeed come from within, indeed it is also said that to affect change, one must be within whatever it is that you wish to change.
Do we do it from the bottom up or does it have to be from the top down, or both ?
It started with a question that I asked myself. It was like, cliche alert, opening Pandora's box. The mind map wasn't going to cut it because I was going round in circles, or up the never ending staircase.
Invite some friends to join the discussion and then again here.
It's not scientific and there is no broad demographic. It is 'data' to some extent, that can be sifted through, weighed up and debated some more. Brainstormed.
"I smell a boomer website brewing in, Twack's Kitchen. He just has to make the commitment, and stop chasing after every reflection."
This Alex, might just cut through it all and get to the core.
Stage one, or does phase sound better ? comes to an end in three months. Between now and then I shall continue asking, sifting, researching, ruminating and listening.
To go up, we must first dig deep and provide a solid foundation.
Well, there has been some history flowing through that wonder, I would probably add a few more to the total of twelve.
I think that when we stop and listen, things just start to arrive at the doorstep. It is so true we have to dig a little deeper to lay some solid foundations, worth the effort.
Creating a vision can take time, time, in the beginning, pays dividends far in excess of the energy expended.
If it is solid, people just start turning up, wanting to be involved, offering their services, insights, and skills.
People want to buy in, not into the cash but more into the vibe which in turn brings the dump trucks, crazy.
It can become surreal how things start to flow.
Follow your dreams, Twack.
We owe it and as the wise man said we owe it to ourselves the most.
If not our dreams, then what is there to aspire to. I once wrote:
"Other people tend to say things better than I think them." and you have done that here Alex. I do so enjoy reading your posts and responses. Thank you.
T,
There's a free mind map tool (XMind) that I find handy when stepping into the cupboard of my brain.
As for the questions you pose, I have no answers. I ask many of them myself on a daily basis, and it's like looking into the abyss.
S
That's sounds like auseful tool, nice tip, thank you. As for looking into the abyss, well the whole thing can seem to be circular, just going round and round and not getting anywhere.
Many of the responses have echoed my own, so there does seem to be a consensus, to some extent. I shall do a bit more digging.
T,
I had to sit with most of this before forming a true response.
My Cupboard is much like stepping into Narnia (a wee bit on the more cynical side)...
The abyss leads me to be VERY political, and that can be dangerous... I tend to go on rants then.
An example of a possible rant I would have...
The Environmental Camp that was held in Italy to discuss Global Climate issues.
It took 144 Private Jets for these Actors, activists, and A-list people to get there... to discuss climate change, and the issues surrounding it... like the use of Fossil Fuels... I must stop there before I really get going. (I can go for days on this topic and some of the other topics you mention).
Back to the topic. I echo Rochelle here. If each one of us did our own part, it could be AMAZING what is achieved.
S
I read 'The Magician's Nephew' long before I even realised there was 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'. Narnia, as it came into being.
I know what you mean though. The conversational pathways are labyrinthine or labyrinthinal, might not even be words, who knows.
Each of us doing our 'bit' would be, in Bill and Ted's words 'Most excellent' and there lies the heart of the 'question' Why don't we ?
Some of us do, some don't.
Money, power, corruption, back-handers, are they just easy sound bites to throw into the discussion, in essence allowing everyone to say, 'Oh well, there's nothing we can to do'
As you say, it is a topic(s) that can be the source of many days worth of debate.
Thank you for your thoughts, together with everyone else, it has given me plenty to sift through.
Well!!! Where does one start?
I have had many conversations like this and it always ends up with: If we can see this why can't the politicians/governments/people in charge.
They don't do anything far reaching because it won't affect them or help their careers or make them more money.
It starts with local councils who are always trying to save on their budgets for community stuff but waste massive amounts on stupid stuff.
An example from when I worked briefly in a local council. A new personal assistant to the top person came in and wanted to make her own mark. Out went all furnishings, crockery, cutlery, glasses for board rooms, (nothing wrong with them) and in came all brand new. A brand new solid wood table with chairs, must have seated 30, not much different to the old one.
This was more than 30 years ago. A brand new ornate mirror, price still on, over £2,000. Our house only cost £25,000.
This person must have spent over £100,000 of local people's money, just to make her mark. It was horrifying to think 1 person could waste so much. Back then, that money would have resurfaced quite a few paths.
If that's one person I knew about how many more just in local government alone?
So because they aren't in in for the long haul, they really don't care about long term, far reaching problems. As parents or grandparents they might but the conscience gets pushed aside.
Does this help or have I gone off topic?
Hello Linda, welcome to the party. Not off topic in the slightest.
"If we can see this why can't the politicians/governments/people in charge."
Almost word for word during our conversation the other day. Followed by expressions that were most certainly 'nonplussed'
Your example conclusion echoed my thoughts about being 'generational' in the way that those who have the 'say' think. We couldn't get past the old favourites of money and power either.
I like the fact hat the conversation is being had and that there are many views that are similar, if not the same. How one gets that voice to be heard is another matter and whether when it is heard it can affect change from the bottom up, well that's the real 'humdinger' as they say.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Linda, slowly but surely I am putting the pieces together. Not sure what picture will be at the end of it though.
Well enough people thinking and talking the same way has it's own power, a power that grows and brings change.
I firmly believe that we create our world with our thoughts, so many with the same thoughts become aligned and powerful.
I look forward to hearing about the end picture.
Totally agree Linda. No Longer is it 'I think, therefore I am'
Now I believe it is 'I think, therefore I can and I will'
PS. 'We' also fits in there quite nicely.
Twack.... interesting conversation.
To me the core problem for each of your little problems mentioned is that we have to figure out "How do we motivate people enough to make them want to change enough so that they will take action."
Hi Sondra, thank you for dropping in. That is, in essence the crux, from another side. Why don't we take action, well because we're not motivated to.
Playing around with that thought, you could say, how bad does a situation have to become before we are motivated. Are we waiting for the straw ? As individuals are we waiting for whatever it is to effect us directly ?
Well, I certainly don't mind the odd digression but this is beginning to be a whole other level.
Thank you again Sondra.
Twack, thought provoking, your posts often have me asking myself questions long after I have moved off the blog post. This has the same effect. I also loved the title, difficult to scroll through and again lesson learnt.
Thank you
:)
You're very welcome Cordelia, thank you for popping in. Sometimes we just forget how to think, I think.
I had all good intentions of writing the post the other day, after I had the conversation, I came home did something else completely. I was 'done' and needed to come back to it another day. By next week I might actually get to write something.
Great post. My niche is philanthropic in nature so I have some insight into this answer, which is basically why do we talk, debate, make opinions, but not DO something?
There are many reasons, I believe.
"Everyone else is not helping and just one person can't make a difference."
"I don't know what I can do."
"Anything that I do won't make a difference."
"It's someone else's problem."
"I don't have time."
"I don't have the money."
It goes on and on.
But if everyone just did SOMETHING towards these problems, imagine what billions of people could do?
I go out and trap feral and free-roaming cats. I care for some longer term. I try to find indoor homes for the adoptable ones. The past two years, I've gotten over 30 cats fixed. It's not a lot compared to rescue groups or people who have more money to do more, but that's 30 cats who don't have an average of 12 kittens a year. That's 24 kittens for two years that female cats haven't given birth to. If have of those 30+ cats are female, that's 15x24 cats that were never born only to have half die before they reach a year old. That's not even counting that a kitten born in March can have their first litter by October. It's astronomical what ONE person can do.
That's more room in shelters so they don't have to euthanize healthy cats.
It feels amazing too! To know you DID something important. I decided to do my site to help educate people on outdoor cats and fixing them, so that's another way that I am helping this outdoor cat crisis in the US.
I don't think a lot of people realize how great it feels to actively do something.
So you're right. Why don't people talk less and DO more? It's an amazing experience.
Thank you Rochelle, this is a wonderful reply. I'm wondering if there has to be a catalyst. Whether it is when something is taken from us, then do we say 'Enough is enough'.
I do think also that as individuals we are never sure if anything we do will make a difference. Not wanting to bring politics into the fray at his juncture but, when you look at some of the smaller parties, that have 'issue' driven manifesto's, plenty will agree with their policies but will not vote for them becase they feel it would be a wasted vote, as they think no one else will get on board.
Your list of reasons duplicates many I have written down and added a few more, so I thank you for that.
You're right about the political situation. People who have that mindset end up voting for the ones they feel have a chance to win, not smaller parties who address issues you believe in. Heck, some people vote by party not on the issues themselves. I don't know why. I don't know if any US president was ever an independent. Politics kind of disgust me so I just avoid a lot of it. Perhaps your niche should be about action and overcoming people's mistaken mindset that they can't make a difference. :)
Twack, being totally candid and open is the only path. Before I give a “pat” answer, I want to sit down at the table and give some thought before I answer. Yes, I love the mind map. Works.
Joe
Thanks Joe, I appreciate that.
It's not an easy one, as I'm finding out. Too many 'what about ?' and 'What if''s' kept coming up. It was fascinating seeing how the conversation at the garage grew out on its own. I think I got cursed at on my departure. Sometimes when our brain hurts it shows that we've had to think hard.
I’m still working on a reply...haven’t got it finished yet. Well, yea, I have been cursed at a few times! Kinda exclusive club...welcome to it!
Joe
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Hi Twack...
You have thrown my brain into a tizzy with your broad range of thoughts on the topics mentioned.
For my part, if I have the ability ( which I do) to help one person or family in need in my small sphere of existence then I am making a difference. If I can convince one or two more people to do what I’m doing then the difference is even more impactful.
My church holds a Sunday afternoon service in an area downtown where many homeless congregate. We bring food, bottled water, razors, hand sanitizer, blankets and coats in winter, etc. and invite them to come inside for worship, fellowship, a meal, and help them make up “to go” bags with necessities for later use.
I may not be able to end hunger or homelessness worldwide, or in this country, or even in the entire city, but I feel what I’m doing is making a difference to at least a few.
And that’s where we all have to start.
KyleAnn
KyleAnn, 'tizzy' was not my intent but you can now understand what it's like 24/7 here inside my 'thought sphere'. Sometimes, just sometimes, I manage to piece it together enough to put down in text.
It's like some kind of cerebral 'letting'. Still, back on topic.
"that’s where we all have to start." There it is, the key word 'start'
What you're doing is making a difference. The 'To go' bags are an awesome idea.