A few weeks ago, I got an email from a woman who had read Seth Godin's ebook, What Matters Now, which can be found on his blog. She noticed that of the 76 contributors to the ebook, only 18 were women. She writes: "That's about 25% and ironically, one of the pages of the ebook is devoted to the idea that women matter."
So she decided to do a Seth-like book that would be compilation of writing from women she knows to be original thinkers. The question she posed was WHAT IS DYING TO BE BORN IN THE WORLD NOW? She gave us each a 350 word limit. This was my offering:
What's dying to be born? Homo sapiens. Dying to be born into the next iteration--the homo sentient, perhaps. Homo sapiens knows, but look where that's got us. Brains without a heart. Homo sentients will have bridged the brain-heart gap and "compassion-- feeling with" will be their modus operandi.
The homo sentients will usher in economies of equity, politics of collaboration, triple-bottom line businesses. They will rise up from the ashes of fallen institutions and imploded religions, bringing with them new myths and stories that heal. They will honor art and see that every day is a canvas for every living being. They will be notorious for displays of adoration and awe, famous for crying at the drop of a hat--male and female both--and they will declare war obsolete once and for all.
Homo sentients will revere the young and the aged. They will create communities where extraordinary education is common, where people learn many languages, where food and care and support are everywhere to be found. They will have transcended religions and committed themselves to the common good with the greatest of faith. Children will be encouraged to make music, make art, and make culture. They will know their value from an early age as they will see this value reflected in every community's choices.
Homo sentients will understand birdsongs, walk with lions, listen to trees. They will be aware of their oneness with all creatures and they will not distinguish between sacred and secular. All things will be holy in the eyes of these beings who are our descendants. I will come back one day as a homo sentient and will cry for joy. Alleluia! We see the light!
Jan Phillips is the author of The Art of Original Thinking-The Making of a Thought Leader and several other books. http://www.janphillips.com/