“Let me know. Do I still got time to grow? Things ain’t always set in stone.” Kanye West, “Street Lights,” 808s & Heartbreak, 2008.

ORDER. The natural order of the Universe forces us through a series of life changes and situations. I read a quote recently that stated, and I paraphrase, “the end result of understanding is change.” Let’s relate this to our own lives through the lens of the current economic and political climate. Go back to when President Obama, who was then Senator Obama, campaigned for the presidency.  The hallmark of his election was on his slogan of CHANGE.  “Change we can believe in” were his exact words. A CHANGE in ideals. A CHANGE in the political process. A CHANGE in bipartisanism.  Now go back a little farther to when Mr. President participated in community organizing in Chicago communities before deciding to attend Harvard’s law school.  It is safe to say that he has remained committed to a set of fundamental ideals while at the same time adjusting his approach to create the CHANGE that he could believe in. One thing has remained for sure: CHANGE IS DIFFICULT.  Even as the leader of the Free World. With two years of leading under his belt, numerous insults and jabs from his haters, the bureaucracy of partisan politics, and an economy that’s buckling at the knees, Mr. President recognizes the high level of ambition in his goals.  The silver lining is that he continues to move forward. Zaneta, my assistant spoke about a similar story she read on the BBC yesterday. It appears that the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, is becoming more reflective as he undergoes cancer treatments. Since beginning cycles of chemotherapy, he has suggested that socialism is not the only way to run government. Wow Hugo! Check out the article here on BBC.

The DDR: President Obama, as a community organizer, and President Chavez, as a recent cancer patient, both understand that the only constant in life is change. President Obama attempts to create more unity in government and President Chavez seeks change in a socialist society because they believe it will only help the people of their respective nations. The day we STOP “knowing everything” will be the day we START learning more things! Today, decide to listen, learn, and live. Don’t be afraid to CHANGE it up if life calls for it. Have a great day!