Mind set: Live outside the box

Jumpinto the storm, do not stand on the sidelines too scared to do anything aboutthe ugliness around you, says Skye Thomas Most of the worldlikes to play it safe They go to their safe jobs, come home to their saferelationships, they drive safe cars, they invest money in safe corporations,they think safe thoughts, and they want nothing more than to feel safe andsecure Survival of the fittest dictates that these people live another day andtherefore get to breed and would make up the.majority of the population.We could say that they play it smart But there is another kind,too This other group lives for thrills They don’t just occasionallythink outside the box, they actually prefer to live outside the box This is agroup who thrives on adventure, change, and newness They love innovative newideas, they like to explore new things, and push the envelope beyond itscapabilities They are the visionaries who perceive something beyond where westand today This group often does not feel understood nor.supportedby the mainstream population. They are not rebels, although they are oftenaccused of being rebellious because they do not embrace the status quo Thisgroup is not anti-anything They do not define themselves by not being a memberof someone else’s group They do not require group consensus to be whothey are Young adults often think that by dressing badly or bymisbehaving that they are somehow brave and different from whatever it is thatthey are opposing, but that is not revolutionary and different, that is justanger.turned inside out. Most of the time they are not accomplishing anything bysimply making a mess of their lives They are not making a point, they are notchanging the world, they are simply behaving in a manner that causes people toshun them That is not the group I am talking about today Thisgroup is made up of people like Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Nikola Tesla,Susan B Anthony, Melissa Etheridge, Nelson Mandela, and countless others who donot strive to be different nor to go against the.mainstreambeliefs.They simply are different, they think different, they livedifferent, and they make passionate choices to contribute something meaningfulto humanity despite the fact that others oppose them All of these people standtall despite the chaos and anger of those surrounding them “Whycan’t you just leave well enough alone? Why do you always have to pushpeople too far? Why can't you just get along?” Those who would keep things safeand comfortable become frightened and angry at these.innovative new thinkers.They torment them, threaten them, mistreat them, ostracize them, and create astorm of ugliness to try and stop these people from simply sharing the gifts oftheir hearts that they were born to share with humanity Yearslater, often after they have long been dead, future generations can look back inhindsight and see their bravery as admirable But in the moment, these peopleare historically treated terribly These people are typically men and women ofpeace who do not go out with an angry.rebellious need to stir up trouble. Theyfight for higher ideals because in their heart of hearts they truly believe thatthings could be better for mankind They hold a vision of better things to comeand they follow that vision wherever it takes them Today there aremillions of people who would change the world with their beautiful open-mindedhearts and their incredibly brilliant minds, especially the upcoming teenagersand young adults in their early twenties They feel that there is no point ineven trying because the current.political and cultural environment is so againstthem. I would be lying if I claimed that what you see as extremehostility towards change was not at a peak right now You are right They do notwant to change again, but you are right, it is time for another change and youare the ones to help bring it Do not be afraid of the backlash Stand tall anddo what you know in your heart is right and just for all, not just what benefitsa chosen few You know that ignorance can no longer rule the people You knowthat blind obedience is no longer a viable.option. To you I say,meet me in the eye of the storm and together we will steer this mess in anotherdirection Jump into the storm Do not stand on the sidelines too lazy andscared to do anything about all of the ugliness going on around you Jump intothe storm Swim and fight your way to the center of the vortex There we willsit together in the quiet and find the solutions Until we embrace the eye ofthe storm and really see what is at the root of humanity's hatred of each other,we will never find a.long-term solution that creates real peace and equality foreveryone. We need to heal our planet, our bodies, and the spiritualhearts of our species People say that the signs are all here and Armageddon hasbegun Why save the planet if the savior is coming to take the good and holypeople away to a better place? Since we are not going to be here much longer, wemay as well fry it on our way out How selfish to assume that yourgod will come carry you off to heaven, therefore you do not have to care for thepeople and planet that are going to be left in the wake.of your final choices.Who is to say that is not the ultimate test of who stays and who gets to ascendto a better place? If you had to pick and choose who were truly worthy ofburning in hell or going to heaven, would you pick the folks who were killingand raging war in the name of God or would you pick the people who were cryingout for love, equality, and to save the planet? I stand here in theeye of the storm, turmoil and war all around me, my heart quiet and strong Thevision is very clear here I will do my.part to save the planet for the sake ofthose left behind. It is not for me to say who should or should not prevailSomeone will be left standing here on this planet, with this atmosphere, withthis water, with this soil For them, I say let's create a plan sothat they have the best possible chance of rebuilding a new world For love ofthis place with its beaches, mountains, and forests that I love so much, I willhold the love of Mother Nature in my heart You know, if the savior comes tohaul all the good guys off to a better place, I think I will.volunteer to staybehind to help make this battered planet a place of beauty once more.