Living the good life is basically to pursue it - not necessarily to make it big as a millionaire or celebrity but as an avatar of good character, change, and/or leadership.

     With this opportunity in blogger.com to express my inner most feelings and thoughts on character, change, and leadership, I rely on a lifetime (though a relatively short one) of experience in growing up in a people-related family business, a (ongoing) wonderful 31 year marriage, and as a father of three beautiful (now) young men. Experience in careers in the U.S. Army and a county-level youth development program round out this reliance.

     If I may be allowed to boldly do so, my first blog is an article (see below) on change. Comments on this article are encouraged.

Become an Avatar of Change

By Kenneth Spoto, Ph.D.

    “I want my child to be a thermostat, not a thermometer.” Desiring that his child develops into one who will effect needed change instead of only reflecting it, author James C. Hunter makes this statement in his book, The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle (2004). This desire for effecting change could also be hoped for a community of people.  And, if we look all around us, there are many people in today’s world that are avatars of change and, undoubtedly, leadership.

       Effecting change as an avatar does not require a movable three-dimensional image used to represent oneself. An avatar can also be a real person, one who expresses a particular idea, principle or concept.  And, we can become avatars of change by volunteering for worthy causes or developing personal leadership abilities; both paths can lead to change, and both contribute to our sense of ownership of our communities and our personal sense of well-being. 

      According to psychologists, our most fundamental sense of well-being crucially depends on our having the ability to exert control over our environment and recognize we do. However, studies show we can learn that we don’t have control, resulting in learned helplessness; this condition can affect future motivation, suppress the body’s immune system, and lead to clinical depression. It is not improbable that communities that feel they don’t have control (what I call ownership) may also suffer from learned helplessness.

     So, what do we do to keep ourselves healthy, motivated individuals and to keep our communities in a similar condition? We get involved! We become Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or 4-H leaders. We become volunteer firefighters or emergency personnel that respond to natural and man-made catastrophes.  We volunteer with the local food bank and civic organizations such as Keep American Beautiful, Rotary and Lions Clubs or an animal welfare society.  We tutor kids during after school programs. We learn more about our local governing bodies by attending police jury, town hall, and school board meetings. And we express our concerns to our local, state, and national representatives. For some of the most adventuresome, the political waters can be tested and candidacies for public office (and leadership) developed.  It is truly exciting to think how getting involved can simultaneously and positively effect change in us and in our communities.

     While we reflect on how we can effect change in our local communities, let us consider our country was built by volunteers, avatars of a variety of needs and situations presenting themselves throughout our nation’s history. And, so it goes, the history of volunteerism, itself, is one of change. Every act of volunteering is and has been a testament to our and our local community’s autonomy and sense of self-determination; ultimately, every act is a testament to our sense of well-being and freedom.