IN HIS inaugural address as U.S. President on January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged American citizens with a memorable declaration: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.

Quite simply, it was a plea for all of his fellow countrymen to endeavour to do what is right for the greater good.

Those of us who were alive at that time and heard those words will never forget them or the positive emotion they carried on that day. There was a great sense of hope, renewal and optimism for a new beginning leading to a better world, but tragically President Kennedy was assassinated less than three years after taking office, and the dreams of many died with him on that day.

More than 50 years hence, perhaps it is time for a worldwide revival of President Kennedy’s vision, one that is more widely shared and not so easily extinguished this time.

However, it will require a monumental change in the way we think, relate to one another and do business in this world in order to make any progress. Business as usual will get us nowhere, other than the muck in which we are stuck.

It is far too easy to blame the system, the government or society in general for all the ills on the planet, when the problems are often rooted within us individually; you and me, me and you.

Thankfully, the solution is within our grasp if we really and truly want a solution that endures.

If we dare to dream once more and desperately want to change the world in which we live, we need to change ourselves first. As President Kennedy suggested, we need to shift our unrelenting focus away from ourselves and place it equally on others and what it is that we can do to help bring about improvements in life for one and all.

Instead of blaming life's inequities and failures outside of ourselves, we need to accept responsibility for the consequences of our own actions before we can move on.

Only then can each of us grow to fully realise that we are all in the same boat called the human race, and that everyone has many challenges throughout life and, most importantly, that it is our duty and obligation as human beings to render help to others when and where we can.

In so doing comes the greatest discovery of all, that there is no greater joy in life than being able to help those in need, whether they be family, friends, neighbours or complete strangers.

Ira Fishman

Sedgwick