Walking the llama trail - The North Star Monthly

4 NOVEMBER 2009 THE NORTH STAR MONTHLY53 Wilson St., Greensboro, VT802-533-2531802-626-5404 802-535-5401106 Hill St., Lyndonville, VT • M-F 7:30-5, Sat. 7:30-3 • barrettauto@myfairpoint.netTheWILLEY’SSTOREHere is the picture we would like on the add. We would like this to take up about½ of the add with the rest of the space filled up with the following information.Open 7:00 a-7:00p 7 days a week OPEN: Mon. - Fri.7-5:30 • Sat. & Sun. 8-5:30Near the southern shore of Caspian lake in Greensboro villagePhone: 802-533-2621 Toll free- (866) 945-5397Fax: 802-533-2293Feel free to arrange this however you want. Thank you!Summer Hours:Monday 10 am – 4 pmTuesday 10 am – 7 pmWednesday 10 am – 4 pmThursday 10 am – 4 pmFriday 10 am – 4 pmSaturday 10 am – 2 pmSunday 11:30 am – 12:30 pmFOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY NEEDS!Near the southern shore ofCaspian Lake in Greensboro village.Phone: 802.533.2621 Toll free: 866.945.5397 Fax: 802.533.2293Opportunity is knockingBY ISOBEL P. SWARTZThere are two home chores that I reallyenjoy — lawn mowing and ironing, forthe same reasons: I can see where I amgoing, where I have been, and I get a positivefeeling of achievement.The rhythm and exercise of walking behind themower is pleasing. I see small details of the gardenand the neighborhood, and enjoy the smell offreshly cut grass, and I am soothed by the glidingaction of the hot iron. I relish the scent as the hissand puff of steam hits damp cloth. But the thing Ilike most about both activities is that they give mea brief, uninterrupted opportunity for thoughts toflow freely through my mind.While mowing the lawn for the last time thisseason, and reflecting on some interesting summerreading, my thoughts wandered towards the challengesof the current recession. What new and innovativeideas will emerge from this stressful time?There will be some, because the expression, “necessityis the mother of invention,” is surely true.Time after time, history has shown that hard timesstimulate smart, creative people.Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: the Story ofSuccess, illustrates this in many ways. Gladwellshows how the month of one’s birth, nationalevents, scientific inventions and cultural developmentssurrounding our early lives can influence ourpotential for success. He explains why athletes,such as ice hockey players born in January or February,and baseball players born in August, have thebest chance for successful careers. Computergurus Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were teenagers atthe precise moment that computers became moreaccessible on college campuses. Using examplesfrom business and law he illustrates how family valuessuch as thrift and hard work, established perhapsseveral generations earlier as a requirementfor survival in a new country, can foster a workethic, determination and entrepreneurship whichlead to success. Maybe this recession will prove tobe such an opportunity for some, as yet unidentified,“whiz kids”?Recently I listened to a call-in radio programthat asked listeners if they thought life in the U.S.would return to the way it was before the recession.After giving this some thought, my first questionis, “Would it be so bad if the answer was ‘No’?”Maybe we should think of this recession as ourequivalent of Noah’s Flood. We know that, as acountry, we have to clean up our act. This is thechance to do it!The New York Times recently ran an articleabout creative ways families used to survive theGreat Depression. Wartime survival in Europe mirroredthose experiences in many ways. We surelycan do as well, or better. We are just as smart, andin many ways much better informed about health,the environment and the rest of the world, thanAmericans were at the time of the Great Depression.What we need is the will to make changes, andnot be afraid of what that might mean to us personallyand to this country.There is no doubt in my mind that barely twoyears ago, there were many things wrong with ourway life and that of other developed countries.Many of these things are being addressed, hesitantlybut hopefully for the better.Excessive spending and inadequate savinghabits, easy credit and lack of professionalism infollowing even the basic common sense rules ofbanking, have landed many in a mess that affects“Time after time history has shown that hardtimes stimulate smart, creative people.”the innocent as well as the guilty. No lack of blamehere, but no recourse for the innocent either.Planned obsolescence has wasted much of ournatural resources, depleted our energy supplies andpolluted our environment. Our throw-away societyis an affront to the planet and to the inhabitants ofundeveloped countries.We need to encourage and promote educationnationally and in our own families. This is the basictool of empowerment available to all. But highereducation is not available to all, especially for manyintelligent young people from lower income families.This is a crime and a terrible waste of thiscountry’s human potential.Our national health outcomes statistics are theworst of the developed world. The more we studyways to improve our health insurance system themore we see why this is so. Many citizens are beingdenied access to the basics of decent health careby the greed of powerful business interests.These ways of life are unsustainable, unsatisfyingand unworthy of our great country. Goingback to where we were before the recession is reallynot an option. I hope that Malcolm Gladwell’stheories about opportunity and creative minds willprove correct, and that we shall see a new generationof brilliant, innovative and caring individualswho recognize the potential of this time, and seizeit! We need their help.ELKS LODGECommunity Food DriveNOW THRU NOV. 6118 Western AveSt. Johnsbury802-748-3785Drop Box in Back EntryUnspoiledin vermont’s NORTHEAST KINGDOMNever Crowded Stunning Views Greensboro/Craftsbury Snowbelt50K Groomed Trails Delightful Lodging and Delicious MealsCaspian Lake / Greensboro, Vermont802-533-2647 / fax: 802-533-7494www.highlandlodge.com / info@highlandlodge.com