Director's Message: The end of the world as we know it!

Will you join the immense collective sigh of relief on Dec. 21, 2012?

For different reasons, information has been perpetuated through the media, news specials, and documentaries regarding this upcoming date in history. There has been a lot of fear around 2012. What it means, specifically the solstice of 2012 and the rare and mysterious 5,125-year cycle of time, such as the Mayan calendar, ends on December 21, 2012.

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Well, either responsible or foolish, the reports have brought awareness to the fact that something’s up. This is no ordinary time, certainly, in the history of our nation, or even beyond the borders of the United States. All nations are undergoing a change, a shift, a transformation and/or a transition. So in just a matter of weeks, we'll be able to take a collective sigh of relief, look back and say, “The 2012 transition is behind us; we’re in 2013.” And then the question is, “Now what?”

Ask yourself whether we are in transition, or is the transition over? Consider that if we are in transition (no matter what the “date” is), it means whatever is happening is not over yet. It means we’ve still got time to do something about it. If the transformation is behind us, it means whatever is going to happen has already happened and now we cannot do anything.

I know many of you are familiar with the story about the heart of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. At some point, something triggers a change within the body of that caterpillar. It builds a cocoon or chrysalis, depending on whether it is a moth or butterfly, and the body breaks down into this delicate gooey dark matter that is a liquid. In that time, that “being” is utterly exposed, unable to defend itself. If a predator comes along during that time, there’s nothing the butterfly or the moth can do to protect itself. It cannot get away. It cannot fight back. It is a sticky gooey mess.

But something mystical happens, at some point a few of the cells in that sticky gooey mess begins to behave differently. They begin to reveal themselves differently; when those cells change first, other cells appear to follow suit. It takes a few of these cells to first shift the way they are behaving for the other cells to recognize it and then begin to develop.

When that happens, the transformation occurs. The sticky gooey mess begins to morph into the butterfly or the moth. The key is a few cells had to do it first. Those cells are called the imagine cells. The imagine cells, were able to imagine a greater possibility. I’m sharing this story because if we take all of this together, the context is available for transformation. We are at the end of 2012, near the beginning of 2013, and we are witnessing some big worldwide changes — great shifts of power. It means that we’re also witnessing the greatest shift in thinking.

Some of you may remain in old habits and perhaps feel panicked. Some may resist the change, or stay in denial. Perhaps the following bullet points on change, transition, and transformation will help support you — not only accept the changes you experience, but to embrace them. When life throws you a curve ball, you may discover a “new” way of thinking and that you will not only survive during challenging times, but you will thrive:

• Change is the normal process of life. Life is not possible without change.
• It is human nature to resist change. Most of us like what is familiar and predictable.
• As normal as change is, it is common to resist it. You are not wrong, bad, or stubborn simply because you resist change.
• It is common to fear the unknown.
• Change can cause us to examine our long-held beliefs and values.
• Moving through change can be painful and feel uncomfortable, and is the only way to move forward.
• Refusing to change does not mean that the world will not change around you. Refusing to change means you will be left behind.
• As harsh as this may sound, some of us resist change because we are lazy. We simply do not want to invest our energy and time; we do not want to commit to a new way of being.
• And to end on a reassuring note, the ability to change, adapt, and move forward often offer us new and wonderful opportunities beyond our imagination.

So whatever happens on or after Dec. 21, 2012, for me, this year went by extremely quickly and I am so appreciative of you the readers and all the corporate sponsors-advertisers of RDH eVillage.

Together we’re creating a better world, and I am optimistic about where we’re going. It is not about judging the past. It is about recognizing what works and what does not. The past worked so well it got us where we are today, and now we’re ready for 2013. Before his death, Buckminster Fuller, said, “You’ll never change the existing reality by fighting the things that you do not like.” He said, “If you want to bring about change in your world, find a better way to do the same thing that makes the old ways obsolete.”

Kristine A. Hodsdon
Director, RDH eVillage