Why, I Oughtta

"They should have more books on fireworks."

"They should have an all-day pass to ride The Beast."

"They should make a pill you can take so you don't get sunburned."

When I was little I was full of requests. Everywhere I went it seemed like there was something that just wasn't right, some rule about how the world worked that struck me as silly or inadequate. Why *can't* they make popsicles that don't melt? Why *can't* they make dogs live as long as people? I didn't understand.

As I got older I found out more about the world and its shortcomings – especially regarding canine longevity – but the main thing I've learned is this: there is no "they."

It may be just part of growing up, but I see things now as consciously chosen and as changeable, and not just by some unseen hand – our culture, with its variations and limitations, was actually put in place by people – people who bear some resemblance to me.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world," said Gandhi, and of course he was right. Becoming a participant in life instead of a bystander is largely a matter of simply realizing that you have a role and accepting it.

The moment you see that "they" are really "we," life seems to open up, welcome you in, and invite you to get to work.