The Willingness to Change

When I was young and free,
and my imaginations has no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.

As I grew older and wiser,
I discovered the world would not change,
so I shortened my sight somewhat,
and decided to change only my country,
but it to seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years,
in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family,
those closest to me.
But alas,
they would have none of it.

And now, as I lay on my deathbed,
I suddenly realized:
If I had only changed my self first,
then by example I might have change my family,
from their inspiration and encouragement,
I would then have been able to better my country,
And who knows, I may have even change the world...

(an Anglian Bishop, 1100 AD, as written in Crypts of Westminster Abbey)