Notes to Make a Difference by (text)

The collaboration and learning here during this month is quite amazing. I was beginning to panic on what I could add to this impressive discussion. Fortunately, the radio was on. Pat Benetar was belting out:

"We are strong, no one can tell us we are wrong."

We are strong and look how much stronger we are getting! Then Neil Diamond chimed in:

"I am," I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Thanks to the read/write web, the days that Neil sang of I think are mostly behind us. We can still be reflective, but someone will hear or read it when we post. And then the conversation will start, and if we take the blog off the blog, who knows what will happen!

Joni Mitchell adds her dulcet tones next:

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.

There are times when these lyrics still stir the melancholy in me. Most of the time now, these lyrics get me going. I want to break out of the circle. I want to do something. I need to make a difference. Then Bruce Springsteen blasts his way into attention:

… We gotta get out while we’re young
‘Cause tramps like us, baby,
We were born to run

So we'll go running. There must be something we can do.

There is.

In a small way, you can help to compose the song that you can whistle the tune too around the water cooler, or the house, or yard, or shopping. You get the idea.

Then when someone says what are you singing? You can tell them the story of how this group of joyful jubilant learners got together to rewrite the words to a song by the BareNaked Ladies. Yes, this is family oriented so we'll keep it above board.

Instead of their verses discussing what they would do if they had a million dollars, you would be sharing with them all you can do as a life long learner! Cue the music please! 

If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd write on my blog (I'd write on my blog)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd buy a real new computer (maybe a nice Apple or an HP)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I'd learn to use del.icio.us (a big fancy link-sharing machine )
If I was a life long learner, I'd link to you

If I was a life long learner
I'd join a group of joyful learners
If I was a life long learner
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I was a life long learner
Maybe we could collaborate on a song
Wouldn't that be fabulous!

And so it goes... but it is not finished! There is room for additional verses.

If you recall the 7 Wonders of Learning, you may have noticed we already have two (bold) in the verse sample shown. We need to incorporate the other 5 (live, love, laugh, leap, and listen). Are you ready?

You can add your verse (or two) here in a comment. Or send me an email (shersteve at gmail dot com) and I'll send you the link to the Google document we are working on.

I'll post the final collaboration here next week (9/26) and we can all go around whistling, humming, or singing virtually together!

The audio version of this post can be found here.

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Steve Sherlock writes his 2 cent views on life from Franklin, MA. He explores the "good experience", "life long learning" and life in general, after handling the "before you blog" list his wonderful wife Dolores provides him. Together they are enjoying the empty nest while their daughters are away at college. His brain has been stuck on music for a long time.

Comments

[Rosa Say]

This is so cool Steve! Love it!
I had to look up the YouTube version to listen to the music – anyone else like me never heard this song before? So catchy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bbRdG30fX8

So now I’m game… with more listening since that's what I had to do...

If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
Well I’d ask a question or two (yes – lots of questions)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
I’d listen real close for a peep back or two (yes – more voices please!)
If I was a life long learner (If I was a life long learner)
Well I’d learn stuff from all your answers (and learn to keep listening too :)
If I was a life long learner, I’d LISTEN to you!
And we’d Make A Difference to each other

If I was a life long learner
I'd join a group of joyful learners (yeah, bring on the joy!)
If I was a life long learner
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard (just another question, peep or two)
If I was a life long learner
Maybe we could collaborate on more questions and dialogue… (more podcasts?)
Wouldn't that be fabulous!

Yep, we'd Make An Aloha Difference

[Steve Sherlock]

Excellent, Rosa! Nice work.

[dave]

Lyrics and melodies from our past seem to be forever imprinted on our soul's dna. And just look how they influence our now! Great job Steve!

"I was beginning to panic on what I could add to this impressive discussion."

I am sure you are not the only one to make this statement Steve. There is so much talent within our community it is scary.

If thoughts like these creep into your head, (not talking directly to you Steve), take a breath and take comfort in the fact that we all appreciate you for who you are. I have written stuff here that, for a brief moment I thought shouldn't be here. You know, "that's not good enough to remain on this page with everyone else's work."

I just think that if we remain true to ourselves and write from the intersection of our soul, gut, heart and mind, we'll get more and grow more.

[Steve Sherlock]

well said, Dave. With the deep breath, allowing the moment of reflection; the true self can arise. We can hear the inner voice, the authentic voice, and then putting it to pen or keyboard become the confident writer.

[Karen Wallace]

Firstly Steve, I need to apologise for not getting involved in this project before - I had never heard of Barenaked Ladies, nor the song - and that somehow stopped me (and it shouldnt have!) I've just listened to the song via that link from Rosa, and she's right - it's really catchy! And I love your contribution so far - this is going to be amazing!

Dave - I think you've captured what so many of think about what we offer up here on JJL. It's like the sum of us all is so much greater than us individually that it is very daunting putting ourselves out there. But somehow, that also makes us dig so much deeper and really tap into our own authentic voices! I for one know I am a better person because of who you all inspire me to be. (says she, fingernails in mouth as she presses the button on her own Make a Difference contribution today...)

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Steve - you're a genius, and you say things in such a great way, it's easy to learn from, and with you. Thank you for making a difference in MY life, and for taking the blog off the blog with me, and for encouraging me to laugh, leap, and listen, to you and to the rest of our family here. Thanks buddy!

[Steve Sherlock]

Karen, no apologies are necessary. Rosa hit the mark with posting the YouTube link to the song. (Thanks, Rosa!) I had (wrongly) assumed folks would recognize the song. As I find out more about each other's families, I realize not everyone has teenagers. I can appreciate my young ladies more for exposing me to BNL and their music but I am also learning that I need to bring others (with non-teenagers) along more carefully.

Phil, thanks buddy!

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

If I had a million dollars, I would buy some words from Steve and he would put them to music and bring out so much more meaning.

Way to go Steve! What talent.

I always enjoyed our discussions, and I agree thanks to the Internet, blogging, and Rosa we have this forum right here, right now and we can each be heard if we but speak up.