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Ignorance is no longer a luxury

posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 06:28 AM

I often define things as 'sexy, fresh, frosty, and buddha.' I often say to people 'don't be shy' or 'have fun' in unrelated context. That's me, I guess thats what makes me unique in some form or another. For most of my life I have been learning how to just survive, and now I am learning how to breathe, and I am still currently in the transcending phase of learning how to change and inspire. The world we live in these days is a consuming one, for the first time the young and inexperienced are leading the old and wise. Our roles have reversed, we are shaping our world's future with every passing day. One person can't change the world, but one person can inspire. Who do you need to inspire? First, you need to inspire yourself, then those close to you, and then, the outside world.

Maybe I am becoming old before my time, but over the past year or so, I only have an interest in making friends with inspiring people no matter their occupation. Having common friends for which you speak about mundane stuff and only go out for drinking was a teenage thing for me. Living in Japan, it is a very very raw pleasure to come across someone who is interested in talking about serious world topics. Or maybe I am not looking hard enough? I think many people in Japan enjoy the luxury of being ignorant. Of course there are many out there who are culturally deep, politically aware, and are in touch with the inner feelings, but they are soo far and few between here as compared to the Western world. Naturally, this has a lot to do with location, history and multiculturalism. For example, racism is a concept the Japanese can not truly grasp.

I want to take a moment to reflect on the devastating cyclone in Burma, and the earthquake in China. Losing one life on our planet is heartbreaking enough, but to lose thousands in such a short time really saddens me. Soo much pain and suffering in the world, yet we still can't learn to live in peace. I couldn't understand the power of an earthquake until I moved to Japan and felt my first one, which was above the 6 point mark. I hated that feeling, because in that one moment I had no control over anything. If the building wanted to collapse above me it could have. Mother nature is a wonderous thing indeed.

I recently finished reading the TIME100 most influential people. Wow, they are soo many people out there doing life changing work. Wow is the only and best way to describe that edition of the Time magazine. One lady who didn't feature in the TIME100, but who did feature in the magazine was Zainab Salbi. She is beautiful, she is strong, and she is an inspiration. Zainab founded Women for Women International, which helps women devastated through war get back on their feet, by helping them reclaim their voices snuffed out by violence.

The most urgent tasks of rebuilding daily life in a devastated nation; feeding a family, doing the laundry, shopping for necessities - fall to women. These challaneges are critical to stabilising a society. Often driven from their homes, women are targeted for ethnic cleansing, raped, widowed, and left as sole providers for their families in societies that, in many cases, show little respect for their rights.

Everybody is fighting their own wars, whether it's in Darfur, poverty, domestic violence, and so on. Anyone that finds their way to this blog, I challenge you to stand strong and inspire those around you. We live in a world where the only way to progress is to be a source of inspiration for those around you. So, to all my friends, especially those back in London, I want to let you know that you inspire me.

Who do I most want to inspire? It's a simple answer... My children!

I decided to accept my job offer from i-genius.org as Creative Director because I truly believe that through i-genius I can help make the world a better place to live. Through helping people connect with each other, I hope they go on to do great things. The i-genius community is full of amazing people doing wonderful things.

Peace, Love and Harmony.

P.S. On a closing note, I will be attend a Social Innovation Japan seminar next month, and will be interviewed as a representative of i-genius.org. I hope I can meet some inspiring people at the seminar.

Lastly, I signed up to a year subscription of the National Geographic Magazine, which gives one a year membership into the National Geographic Society. It's nice to know that you can support such fantastic work, be educated and inspired at the same time.

Comments

Nicolo Wojewoda

Sunday, May 18, 2008 07:06 PM

Really nice words Barry! I can really connect with your idea of inspiring people... I've been doing that in the past years of my life (quite unaware that I was inspiring them, actually) and now I'm happy to look back and see the nice things that were accomplished by those around me. Sometimes it's as easy to start as doing the right thing, taking action for what you believe in and being successful with it... simply put, leading by example. As Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world. :-)

Barry Crisp

Monday, May 19, 2008 03:50 AM

Hi Nicolo, thank you very much for taking the time to read my post, and for leaving your kinds comments. I was going to include the Gandhi comment, but I was confident that someone was going to mention it. Let's continue inspiring people everyday.

Tommy Hutchinson

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:14 AM

I really like this. There was a time when celebs did all the inspiring but now i think the world has moved on and people are inspired by the world of other people more like themselves. I am sure you will be a wonderful inspiration to your children as you are to many others.

Barry Crisp

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 06:43 AM

Hi Tommy, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my latest post. Very much appreciated. I would agree with you... I myself are inspired by the world of other people.

Peter Ongera

Saturday, May 31, 2008 09:25 AM

Hi Barry, Congratulations on joining i-genius.I wish you good luck.The story of Nelson Mandela is very inspiring,too. Regards.

Barry Crisp

Monday, June 02, 2008 09:36 AM

Thank you Peter!