COMMUNITY
JEWFRO
Choosing Choices
RED TURN
By Ben Falik
r;I\r A1/1,
f 2015 is the future (so sayeth
Back to the Future II), then the
present and the years ahead
seem like they will be governed
by one thing (not apes) more than
anything else: choice.
I'm not the first or smartest
person to think about choice —
expanding choices, the paradox
of choice, the impact that our
choices have on us, those around
us and those far, far away — but
I have been thinking lately about
the choices I make. And how I
make them. Historically, haphaz-
ardly. Only lately with what some
of my more enlightened friends
call "intention?'
In a sea of choices, you need a
rudder, motor, sails, oars, paddles,
a life jacket, hoverboard and
prayer to stay afloat and, with any
luck, on course. Here are some
areas where we find ourselves
faced with an unprecedented
depth and diversity of choice,
along with a few thoughts about
making good ones.
Statistics and stories. Bom-
barded with both, I tend to gravi-
tate to whichever and whatever
affirms my perspective. Only by
critically blending the qualitative
and quantitative data available
is it possible to make informed
choices. For example, 62,000
Detroit properties are facing tax
foreclosure this year; the idea that
as many as one in five Detroiters
could lose their homes is numb-
ing.
Then I hear the stories at
becausesomeoneliveshere.com .
Like Jimmy: "I am 71 years old and
have lived in my home since 1971.
The building (Cobo Convention
Center) that I am sitting in right
now — I helped build ... I try to
help my neighbors repair their
house when things break down. I
just hope I can keep mine?'
Together, the stats and stories il-
lustrate that Detroit can only reach
its highest heights by honoring
those who have soldiered through
its lowest lows.
I
Showing up and sitting out.
Woody Allen said 80 percent of
success is showing up; Bill Gates
(Sr.) writes about "showing up for
life!' For those of us not yet being
quoted about the importance of
showing up, the notion of multiply-
ing 80 percent by the fraction of
life you can logistically manage to
show up at is daunting. Ultimately,
what you choose to sit out is just as
important.
When I find myself saying "I don't
have time for that;' I've gotten in
the practice of replacing it with
"that's not a priority for me?'
Then you can get to the business
of not just showing up physically,
but showing up in mind and spirit
— and resisting to the demands
of the world buzzing from your
pocket — be it for a board meeting
or kindergarten soccer game.
I managed to both show up and
show up mid-blizzard, across from
the Fisher Building (even though
it meant sitting out an evening
with a group of Jewish and Muslim
students visiting from Princeton)
for the grand opening of Cafe Con
Leche Nord. The space was popu-
lated by familiar faces from both
the flagship CCL on Vernor and the
bygone Comerica Tastefest on "The
Boulevard?'
Candid and canned. Often, I
skew toward being either a jukebox
of prefabricated comments or an
off-the-cuff outtake reel. I don't
think there's anything inauthentic
about knowing some of what you
already think and might share —
Some weather we're having! —as
long as you leave space for
substantive spontaneity.
Recently, I got to be guest on
WDET and almost reflexively told
an older caller "you look great;'
only to (I hope) redeem myself with
some unrehearsed thoughts about
the opportunity and need for
Detroiters of all ages to teach and
learn from each other.
Whether empowering or effac-
ing, literary or literal, global or
granular — stay choosy, friends.
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RED THREAD I March 2015 33