Planting New Trees
Nelson Henderson said “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
It is this sentiment that must drive our choices at the looming Australian election on 21 May. How many people have voted for one of the two major parties their entire life, who now, cannot in good conscience vote in that same unconscious manner again?
We cannot unsee what has happened in the past two years.
We cannot unsee the level of governance that we have each experienced since March 2020.
Australians have an opportunity to create significant change on 21 May.
If you love your children and grandchildren, then it is time to plant new trees.
Albert Einstein noted “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Voting for the same duopoly will simply deliver more of the same results. This is a time in history where the purpose of minor parties and Independents is to bring new voices to the chamber. The uncertainty and chaos that these challenging voices will bring to the order of present governance, can usher in a much-needed transition into a new model and system.
Professor Jordan B Peterson shared that “The Daoists believe that a meaningful life, the optimally meaningful life, is to be found on the border between chaos and order.” Meaningful and Healthy debate must no longer be censored. There are too many questions that now must be answered.
I believe that this current model is redundant. As citizens, we are well resourced with enough capacity to be accountable for ourselves. As citizens, we must demand governance that represents our interests. It’s time to opt out of the mailing lists and unsubscribe from the PR campaigns. We are not their products to sell. We are citizens not consumers.
As children mature into adults, leave home and take responsibility for their own lives, similarly, we citizens must be accountable for the choices that we make to the same degree. “Your papers please” is not an option. Without a significant internal connection to self, we, each, at various times, have been sucked into the vortex of fear theatre through the daily media headlines. Seeking external authority and protection, as a child hides behind their mother’s apron, human sovereignty has oft been exchanged for the delusion of safety and comfort. Yet if we each looked honestly at every significant event in our own lives, we would recognise the pattern of fear, uncertainty and the unknown that actually drove the greatest change for good at some point.
So, as we plant new trees, it is also time to shake the trees that were planted by our fore fathers and prune them right back to counterbalance the root loss, remove weak branches and strengthen each trunk.
Millions of young men and women marched off to a war on the other side of the world in 1914. They could have put safety, certainty and comfort first and remained at home. But they chose to fight.
May the courage and grace of the Anzacs, inspire you to plant new trees on 21 May.
May their great sacrifice not have been in vain.
Copyright 2022 Nichola Burton is the CEO of The Pushworth Group, Creative Pitch Director for The Manick Label, Design UX for Aquarius ™ the Definitive Music Business Booking App, Wellness Program Manager for Music Means Business, Event Manager and Producer for Australian Festival Management, Podcaster and Producer for The Music Real, Author, Musician and Vocalist in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with over 32 years experience working with Musicians, Performers, developing Artists and coaching them through Marketing, Branding, Show and Business Management. She holds qualifications in Design UX, Business and Front-Line Management, Training and Workshop Delivery, Music Business Management and Piano and Voice from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
