Transformation

“How monotonous the sounds of the forest would be if the music came only from the Top 10 birds.”

~Dan Benet

“Ask yourself how would you be

if you didn’t know the day you were born.”

~Toby Keith, “Don’t Let the Old Man In”

The young man of me had longhair and dressed in ways that adults looked at me with dismay, and my peers looked at me with acceptance.

“The old man” isn’t about the outward appearance of a man (or woman), but the attitude we live with.

In our work, transformation means becoming homogenized and standardized, rather than transformed.

We learn to speak an odd language of cordiality but lacking substance.

We speak indirectly to others, rather than freely.

We cease finding meaning in our days and pursue purpose in our nights and weekends until one day we wake up to discover it is nowhere to be found.

Most trudge on, commuting to their grave.

To use the lyrics from later on in the song,

“When he rides up on his horse
And you feel that cold bitter wind
Look out your window and smile
Don’t let the old man in”