Each day, one of my most clarifying rituals is a three-mile walk along the River Bottom Trail. This daily rhythm has become my moving meditation — a place where I find calm, clarity, and a sense of alignment.
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I walk this trail through every season: the rebirth of spring, the blaze of summer, the falling leaves of autumn, and the frozen hush of winter. Over the years, I’ve grown sensitive to the subtle winds of change that each season brings. Right now, fall is whispering its arrival. There’s a faint smell of autumn in the air, grasshoppers darting out of the fields, the last cut of hay lying in rows, even the river shifting in tone and texture.
Here’s the truth I’ve learned: no amount of thinking, pushing, negotiating with God, or even throwing a tantrum will hold back the changing of the seasons. The shifts begin subtly, almost imperceptibly — and then, in a snap, the world around us transforms.
This morning, I realized how true that allegory is for where we stand in society. Many are clinging desperately to the past. Others try to leap five years into the future. But neither strategy works. The real invitation is to notice the subtle shifts and lean into them.
I’ve watched this play out across my lifetime: the arrival of the personal computer, the networking of machines, the Internet, search engines, the rise of social media, the democratization of media. And now, the most powerful disruptor I’ve ever seen — artificial intelligence — is sweeping in like an electrifying thunderstorm.
We don’t know exactly where it will strike or what trees it may topple, but we can be certain: it will reshape the landscape. And the opportunity — the excitement — is not to hide under a log, but to step into that storm with courage.
Here’s what I believe:
Those who focus on adding value will thrive.
Those who look for ways to improve efficiency and contribute to the greater good will be okay.
Those who resist, hunker down, and try to lock the doors against change will struggle.
I may be older now, but I’m not sitting this one out. I’m stepping boldly into this season of change — in both the natural rhythm of fall and this next great revolution of life.
I invite you to join me: notice the subtleties, embrace the shifts, and be a change agent in this exciting new season.
—In wisdom and learning,
Rich
