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Susan Boyle and Adapting to Change

By Linda Anselmi on September 30, 2009 at 3:01 PM in Current Affairs

All of nature and humanity is an evolutionary history of creating and adapting to change. Adapting is how we not only survive, but thrive.

The American people, in particular, have always excelled at adapting and thriving. At our core, we are practical innovators wrapped in a fearless bravado and big picture dreamers with one foot grounded in reality.

As a budding nation we Americans empowered and charged each and every citizen to find the courage necessary and seek the knowledge required to keep our nation strong and vibrant.

Yet there seems to be a constant refrain from the media and politicians these days that the American people don’t like change. Or that we are afraid of change. But I think they are wrong. I think they have misread both the situation and the American people. We are mired, now, as a nation, not by fear but by misplaced trust.

When we as citizens entrusted corporations and our government with our power, when we, as citizens, entrusted the media with our knowledge and when we, as citizens, allowed fatigue and frustration to overcome our courage, we lost our ability to trust ourselves and enchained our creative and critical thoughts.

Our way forward now, as it has always been throughout history, will be by creating and adapting to changes. And whether those changes are big or small, all will require our active participation. Each and every one of us will need to find our courage, expand our knowledge and responsibly wield our individual powers.

And, though she is not an American, it seems only fitting to conclude with video and music by someone who found her courage and is learning how to create and adapt to change.

Go Ms. Boyle!!

You are a heartwarming inspiration to us all!

A beautiful recording of Wild Horses by Susan Boyle (without video).
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A bit of video on Susan’s journey thus far.
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  • mark connette

    “Americans traditionally, love to fight” Gen. Patton. we need more men like him today. thats inspiring. we need to inspire our next generation to stop apologizing to rogue nations. we need to stop cow-towing to useless organizations like the United Nations. we need to inspire the next generation to stop being politically correct. We need to help them understand the dangers of socialism and one party rule by democrats in D.C. Thats the most important thing we can inspire in the next generation. America bows to no nation or to any one political party.

  • Tricia Spiegel

    Great post! I love it that someone who doesn’t have “the right look” is making it big time. Our own winner of “America’s Got Talent” this year is a male version of the same phenomenon. Kevin Skinner (unemplyed chicken chaser) doesn’t look the part nor does he have the best voice. But he does have something very special–that “IT” factor.

    I am not sure whether it is the disparities that excite us or whether we really can see past the “stuff” to something pure.

    I like to hope it is the latter.

    • Linda Anselmi

      Thanks Tricia.

      I like to think it is the latter also. I’ve had “Wild Horses” stuck in my head for a week, so it can’t all be the visual disparity.

      I’ll have to check out Kevin Skinner. Hmmm, a chicken chaser? That’s a new one for me.

      • Tricia Spiegel

        This is the best link to Kevin Skinner at this point–most are really bad. The problem with his last performance is that the mic covered his face most of the time, which diminished his “it” factor. But he won anyway.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3C0Bqi0LP4

  • pm317

    Good one, Linda. This relatively new nation has forgotten its history in the recent days about what made it unique. It is going back to the ways of the old world of corruption and deception. Somewhere there has to be a wake up call about the intellectual dishonesty of hope and change discourse coming from the political elite.

    • Linda Anselmi

      Thank you pm317.

      I agree, but also think some of the intellectual dishonesty lies within ourselves. We, the people, want change with out the work. We can’t seem to give up on that easy button. And none of it will change until “we”, at the very least, start thinking for ourselves. And give up the old ‘well worn’ thought patterns.

      Today we are a bunch of clones. We’ve lost our unique strength in being united individualist.

  • Ellen D

    America always was young and trusting, but there used to be a cadre of trusted elder statesmen. We have some, like Bill Clinton, but unfortunately none in Congress that I can think of. It seems like they all are unprincipalled hypocrites.

  • Peggy Sue

    I’ve been following Susan Boyle, Linda, from the first U-Tube entry when this shy, shaggy-browed, frumpy, middle-aged woman walked onto an English stage and claimed she wanted to be a “singer, a great singer.” What had stood in her way? she was asked.

    “I’ve never been given a chance,” she replied.

    The audience laughed, rolled their eyes. How silly and deluded. How could this old, unattractive woman think “she” could be an undiscovered star?

    And then she opened her mouth. The voice of angels came out!

    I think Boyle is a good example of how shallow we’ve become [only beautiful people can be truly gifted] and how to face massive change. This woman from a backwater Scottish village has had a seismic upheaval from a quiet, unassuming life to sudden international fame. It wasn’t easy. She stumbled and fumbled. But eventually, got back on her feet.

    And that voice. You cannot deny the voice.

    As Americans, we need to remember that our core, our historic ideals are as precious, as unlikely as Boyle’s voice. But what is grand is grand regardless of the outer package. We may be fractious, even unruly. And we will change, we will adapt because there is no choice. Life is never static.

    But that unique voice, that one in a million shot is something to cherish, fight for, never give up, never let go, never compromise.

    And if you have any doubt, listen to Susan Boyle’s voice. She’s an inspiration for anyone who mocks those who keep on, keeping on.

    Boyle is a wonder. She’ll make you cry. Because this is the real thing, in all its messy splendor. As we, Americans are.

    In the end, it’s all about the voice. And the heart behind it.

    • Linda Anselmi

      Wow! Beautifully said Peggy Sue!!

    • Andrew P

      Thanks for words so truly inspiring—the like of which have yet to scroll down the overworked TelePrompter screens of Barack 0bama.

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  • Sassy

    Linda, I find your post to be poignant!
    Our society now, and for some years past, seems to be on a six-lane interstate with no exits and no way to slow down!
    My perception about our country has changed considerable, and not for the better.
    More and more people are so stressed by the demands on them, and the lack of solitude, that I fear we have lost the very fabric of the country!
    I hope that I am mistaken.