The man in the mirror…

I started writing this post a few days ago, it is based on my favorite Michael Jackson song. Today, the entertainment world was surprised with his death at the age of 50 years.

It’s easy to see and complain about the things that go wrong around us, it is also easy to focus on who we think is responsible for the damages and who would be the right person to fix them. In the last election everyone focused on Obama and how he would bring hope and change… the financial situation is the same if not worse, people keep killing themselves and others and the world keeps being a very, very troubled place. I am not against him, I am against thinking that he is the solution, more than that, I am against us pointing at a person, thinking that everything will be alright because of them.

I truly believe that change starts with us, and I know, this is a topic that has been written about by so many but I think we do not believe it enough. What are we doing to stop the rising number of suicides? What am I doing to feed the homeless?

What would happen if I start loving more?  If I start giving more? Thinking more about other’s well being than I think of mine? I believe change would start happening around me, there’s still hope. This song, “Man in the Mirror”, speaks about problems we see every day and how we can be part of their solution.

Need any ideas on how to start changing the world around you? You can start with these…

WorldVision – Relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty.

Blood: Water Mission – Organization that works to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression.

Keep a Child Alive - Keep a Child Alive is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to children and their families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and the developing world by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS.

Here is a video of the song “Man in the Mirror” followed by the lyrics:

Man In the Mirror – Michael Jackson
Gotta make a change
For once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right

As I turned up the collar on
A favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs

A summer’s disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other
On the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change, yey

I’ve been a victim of
A selfish kinda love
It’s time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really pretending that they’re not alone

A willow deeply scarred
Somebody’s broken heart
And a washed out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya’ see
‘Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways, yeah
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
‘Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your mind

No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make that change