This phrase had been used by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan when addressing the South African Parliament on February 3, 1960 in Cape Town, South Africa. The actual quote per Google, was: “The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.” I am recalling my Washington DC internship with Senator Strom Thurmond in 1978 and I was tasked in taking a side and defending it through writing a paper on the topic of the South African apartheid. Interestingly enough, I had met the Kennedy’s speech writer at a softball game between Senator Thurmond’s team and Ted Kennedy’s team one night, and I received some information on the Apartheid topic from the Library of Congress within a week. That softball evening, a group of us had stopped over the Kennedy residence where there was a swing hanging down from a tree limb in the backyard with a pool house further down the hill. It may have been at Ethel and Robert Kennedy’s home in Virginia in the summer of 1978, though I have not been able to confirm that.
The impact of both the South African apartheid and the force of change that Kennedy family has represented, certainly reminds me of the certain change to come for me and my life, based on the last 24 to 48 hours. At times I have experiences that I recognize are guidance, similar to being a visionary at times, whether for my own life, for others close to me, or for those at large.
In this particular case, I had gone into 3 different restaurants over the last 48 hours, and I saw while they had been a positive connection to the past, I was being pulled to be uncomfortable. The 3 different experiences were revealing to me that I needed to change where I go, for the vibration or energy of the environment, was no longer congruent to my own energy, interests, and comfort. The element for growth was calling me forward, calling me forward to have more of a voice in the world where I can create positive impact. I have reconnected to my love of tennis recently and want to have much more so in the future. I could go into the details of these experiences, but I do not want to loose the gist. We all know when we are being pushed to make changes, to bring us closer to the reason why our soul chose to do and be while in physical form on earth.
We all have our own nudges or at times a sledgehammer of an experience(s) to bring us out of our comfort or disconnection, and bring us to an important understanding and/or set of perspectives that cause us to change or we will eventually pass due to not making the needed adjustments.
I believe we all are being called to make changes in our lives and to reformulate our lives, so we are living more authentically - aligned to our soul’s desired path, versus all the outer influences. Connection to each other, society, the world(s) are important, and yet it is most important to be present in our own lives, to then give more authentically to others - whether to individuals or organizations.
Perhaps my writing today will provide a feeling of connection and knowledge, that despite the change many of us are being called to make, know we are called to create meaningful impact in the world at this time. The choice(s) are ours to make, despite the wake-up calls that suddenly appear in our lives, and at times what seems at the “wrong” time.
I am encouraging you to find what brings you joy, and sprinkle that joy, in your life each day, despite or along with whatever comes your way in life.