Persönlich

The egocentric, restless dance around one’s own self doesn’t really get us anywhere. We all need ongoing exchange and connection with what keeps us alive. Air, water, and light are just a few elements that flow in and out of us. We are all interconnected. Linked. Constantly and always. To everything. We are all beings of exchange. If you don’t believe it, just try holding your breath for a few seconds. As long as you can…

What we often call a “person,” this temporary human waystation, is very roughly made up of flesh, bones, and a lot of water that flows in and out. And countless connections, both inside and out. But we are all more than our bodies. Each of us has an extensive network reaching out into the world. Connections with friends and acquaintances. Ties to a rich treasure trove of experiences and memories. It is a vast universe around our person that is constantly metabolizing, exchanging and shaping ideas.

The personal universe is our inner and outer space, with all individual relationships, possibilities, and connections.

The question is, how can each individual contribute to a transformation process with their unique wealth of creative potential, their own experiences, as well as their personal abilities and social connections?

Of course, the transformation process ahead of us will only succeed through global cooperation among all the forces involved. The catastrophic changes in the climate, the hardening of ideological divides, and the attack on democratic participation compel us to get involved if we want to survive in a livable world. This is what moves me.

And the good news? Our personality is constantly changing.

—Thomas Schmenger