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While shocking change can indeed come from something unexpected, awful and tragic, there are also wonderful, beneficial love bombs going off regularly. I just experienced learning of a friend's murder on the same day a woman appeared out of the blue to announce that she was madly in love with me.

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Wow, Stephen, that was a day. I totally agree, which is why 'change-making' is such a strange concept!

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I have spent a lifetime guided by the I Ching, the Chinese book of changes. Its 64 hexagrams interwoven between the micro and macro moments of life serve as a quantum guidepost. I consider it a phonebooth for making calls to God.

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Thank you. I am currently in the middle of it - was glad to read this today.

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That's so good to hear! I hope you are able to come through whatever it is... glad the piece was helpful...

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Jun 8·edited Jun 8Liked by Steve Thorp

Some lovely thoughts I am glad to have read, thank you. I think I've often tended to agree with Monbiot's comment, or to wonder, and find myself strangely now unsure. I like the idea that at any one time we are all trying to do our best. But then I have to try and apply that to everybody. Which opens up caution on thinking I am sure of Monbiot's judgment, or it being just that.

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Hi Toni, I agree with you. I think everything is in flux - including whether George M is right all of the time! George is offering answers to THE PROBLEM which might, ironically be part of the problem! Thanks for your comment...

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agreed. It occurred to me partly it is also a matter of how you read 'psychopath', as a simple label of badness or as something to understand and the structures/circumstances around it - and how much we believe in change for those with such a label. On the other hand I'm not very into lots imposed. I think the label often becomes a shorthand for a simple binary good/bad and that is what i reacted to - but maybe if I think well about it it invites me to unpack it. Thanks for your reply I will read GM's article (I think I did when it was first published, I think he has a new book out I'd also like to read).

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Jun 8·edited Jun 8Author

yes, the word is very loaded and I'm usually hesitant about labels. I guess I wonder what else we can name it as when people in power seem oblivious to their tragic effects! Worse they aren't oblivious and just don't care...

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Jun 8Liked by Steve Thorp

Well said.

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Thanks Newell!

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