Hmmm, are these words of wisdom to carry with us into 2011? Or should we perhaps expect a little bit more of ourselves?

It may seem rather presumptuous of me to disagree with one of the great political and ideological figures of the last two centuries. But I feel compelled to do so in this instance. As we stand at the dawning of 2011, I am inclined to argue that we need to aim higher.

As we rang in the New Year last night, one of the people at the party I attended commented that the year 2011 seems a bit ominous somehow. Something about the figure 11 causes us some trepidation. It could be the psychological association with 9/11 – the terrible events of September 11, 2001 which are indelibly engraved in her memories.

On the other hand, World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That fact hopefully balances the scale to some degree in terms of what emotions we associate with the number 11.

Setting aside the number itself, I believe that much of our discomfort, as we look ahead to 2011, arises from the uncertain times in which we are living. It seems there is no such thing as a “stable economy” anymore. It’s a rollercoaster that we have to get used to riding.

Political unrest and turmoil in countries like Afghanistan appear to have no discernable end. The ever present threat of terrorism has us forever looking over our shoulders. Overcoming the poverty and suffering in impoverished countries like Haiti – rocked by an earthquake and now battling a cholera epidemic – at times seems hopeless.

In the midst of so much that we feel powerless against, it is a short leap to the conclusion that we as individuals are insignificant. Why even try to make a difference? Why not revert to “survival of the fittest” and focus on our own needs?

I see things a little differently. I believe that each and every one of us is created to be significant. We each have a talent, ability or gift that can make a difference in the world around us. We will not all be famous or perform heroic acts. But we each have the potential to shift the world on its axis for the better.

My gift is the written word. I try to use it to create stories that examine the human condition, shed light on it and inspire. I’m not likely to win the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature. But I do believe I can make a difference by what I write.

I know some people for whom 2010 was a terrible year. Life battered them at every turn. They have inspired me by their strength of character and their will to carry on. They are heroes. I believe it is my responsibility to inspire them using the gifts I have been given.

Metaphors are one of the tools of my trade that I use as I strive to be significant and to inspire others. What are your gifts? What are the tools of your trade? I challenge you to find them and use them. Aspire to be significant and to make a difference.

Whatever you do will be significant if you choose to aim higher. Someone who is struggling may find the inspiration they need in you.

~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel” – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.

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“Pain reaches the heart with electrical speed, but truth moves to the heart as slowly as a glacier.”  ~ Barbara Kingsolver, U.S. Writer

What got me thinking along these lines was driving to work and watching two kamikaze lane hoppers make their way south on Dixie Road. You know the type I mean. They weave through traffic changing lanes every 20 seconds like a running back heading for the end zone. The rest of us are just obstacles in their path.

I couldn’t help but wonder where they are in such an all-fired hurry to get to. They seem desperate to arrive before anyone else as if there is a prize for being first across the finish line.

“The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.”  ~ Rupert Murdoch, Chair of News Corporation.

Hard to argue with Murdoch’s logic when you take a look around. High speed trains rocketing across the countryside at 200 km/h… Jet plans streaking through the sky at 885 km/h… pocket rocket computers that process information in nanoseconds.

We are a speed obsessed culture. Obsessed with compressing the time it takes us to do everything. Fast food restaurants… Five minute microwave meals… Fast acting medications… Drive through windows at the coffee shop because we’re in much too much of a hurry to park and walk in.

Wasn’t technology supposed to free up our time and give us leisure? Doesn’t seem to have worked out that way. On the contrary, the faster technology gets the faster we seem compelled to go to keep up. We are forever racing the clock as if our life depended upon saving precious seconds.

I confess that I am all too often caught up in the greed for speed. I catch myself shifting into high gear for no particular reason. When I ask myself why, all I can come up with is that I’m on a race to nowhere – because I never get to that place when I can afford to slow down.

“There is more to life than simply increasing speed.”  ~ Mahatma Ghandi, Indian Philosopher

The truth is we’re racing ourselves into an early grave. The more speed obsessed we become the more stressed we become. Stress feeds speed and vice versa.

We get a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror of metaphor when two land hoppers try to merge into the center lane at the same time. It’s a disaster in the making right before our eyes – until one cues in at the last second and veers off.  But its inevitable that the crash will come somewhere down the highway.

We need to slow down our lives or we’ll crash and burn just like the land hoppers. Stop and smell the flowers. Calibrate our lives to natures rhythms and seasons rather than the unending race to nowhere. It really is about the journey rather than the destination.

“Since time is the one immortal object which we cannot influence – neither speed up or slow down, add to nor diminish – it is an imponderably valuable gift.”  ~ Maya Angelou, American Poet

Did you enjoy this posting? If so, I invite you to subscribe to “Michael’s Metaphors of Life Journal aka Things That Make Me Go Hmmm” at its’ internet home www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2. Instructions for subscribing are provided in the “Subscribe to this Blog: “How To” instructions page in the right sidebar.

Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel”. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.