I was 11 years old when the song We Are the World was released.  It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie with the intent to fund a non-profit foundation, that would feed and relieve starving people in Africa.

They wanted to write a song that was easy to sing and memorable.

They wanted to create an anthem.

Which they did.

The song ended up selling over 20 million copies and is the eighth best selling single of all time.  It has since raised $63 million to fight famine in Africa.  Back in March of this year, Lionel Richie was said to be considering the release of a new version of “We Are the World” in a bid to raise money to fight the current pandemic.

Not only did this song change the world, it changed me.

A seed was planted that led me to believe that I too could change the world.  At the time, my 11 year old self thought it’d be through a song too. I played the piano and so I’d sit for hours trying to craft words while stringing notes along with it.  The hope that one day this song I was writing would bring world peace.  The song never made it to billboard charts, nor did it bring world peace. It remained unfinished on my black Yamaha grand piano on 3 Benstrow Ave.

Over the years the whole notion of changing the world felt inspiring and daunting at the same time. It also felt like a big responsibility and pressure for someone to put on themselves. Could a 11 year old take it upon herself to bring world peace?

Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Today, I believe that changing the world is not some big, daunting, and overwhelming feat. It is something you do through your actions.  Changing the world is demonstrated by how you show up.

It could look like a song or like Greta Thunberg, who at the age of 15 started spending her school days outside the Swedish parliament to advocate for stronger action on climate change.

And it could simply be demonstrated by how you show up, day to day, by:

• being present with your kids,
• patient with your aging parents,
• compassionate towards yourself when things don’t go as planned and,
• kind to your partner when they don’t fold the towels the right way or always run five minutes behind.

Changing the world is not about the big things you do.

Changing the world happens in the small, everyday, mundane, micro moments of life.

How you show up when no one is looking, is how we change the world.

In April 2019, I initiated a project.  It has since been the biggest commitment I’ve given to a creative project in my lifetime thus far.  It’s my small, yet mighty way, to be the change the world needs today.   I wrote a book.

It’s been a long journey and I’m in the midst of preparing my book for publishing which is set for October 20th, 2020.

Over the coming few weeks I’d love to take you into my book writing experience.  The painful and exhilarating moments I had every step of the way.  It’s a marathon that I am just starting and would love to take you behind the scenes of the love and yes, some loathe in the process, of making something to change the world.

Writing a book may not be your big idea or change you want to make. Perhaps it’s starting a business or changing jobs or industries. Perhaps it’s learning a new skill like carpentry to build a cabin or finding the courage to write an article to express your perspective on racial injustice on LinkedIn.

Whatever change you want to make, the road will be paved with tribulations and triumphs.  Over the coming weeks I’d like to share my story from the creative trenches of writing a book with you. How does that sound to you?

Now, I’d love to hear for you:

• What change do you want to see in the world today?
• What big idea or project are you thinking about that is nudging you right now?

Comment below or email me at finka@finka.ca  –  I’d love to hear all about it!

With love,

Finka