This past week our property was enveloped in a thick fog. I know that many people are dismayed by fog due to the limited visibility and perhaps a feeling of being closed in, but for me it is the exact opposite. I love fog and I love being out and about on a very foggy day. The thicker the fog the better! Why? Because on foggy days you often see things for the first time due to the fact that all the background distractions are hidden. For me, fog creates focus and with focus sometimes new forms, ideas and solutions emerge.
“What I thought was, the reason people were failing is they were trying to overcome nature instead of working with it.” - Marshall Madoff
On Sunday my mind was blown by a story on 60 Minutes about one man’s vision that emerged from intense focus. The man profiled was Marshall Madoff. I had never heard of the man, but I quickly became intrigued. Mr. Madoff epitomizes what I wrote about last week about how “each of us also needs to do what we can, where we can to help get the ball rolling” and what can happen when we really focus in on something. The lessons to be learned from this 81 year old businessman, turned citizen scientist, are many. Although many may view his actions as extreme, his level of self-sacrifice for the betterment of the world is truly amazing! Through isolation and focus Madoff has figured out how to break apart cellulose to access plant sugars. The process that he has developed has the potential to truly transform the direction of human history in a very positive way, especially as how it relates to energy use and global warming. IF YOU WANT TO BE INSPIRED BY WHAT ONE PERSON CAN DO, WATCH THIS 60 MINUTES SEGMENT.
For another great source of inspiration, especially for your children and/or grandchildren or other children that you may teach or have contact with check out Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris.