When I was studying at the University of Oklahoma, I took a lot of courses outside of my degree plan: History of Capitalism, Political Science, Study of Language in the Non-Western World, Film Studies, etc. 

(Fortunately for me I had not yet discovered a deep, unfading affection for beer yet…so I had plenty of free time.) Several of these classes ended up being the highlight of my time in school.

Speaking of education, did you know our forefathers (the very ones who gave us the Constitution and all those wonderful numbered Amendments: 1, 2, 3…) also proposed that we should make universities across the country free, subsidized by the government and open to all.  The idea was that an educated country was a better country and that by breaking down socioeconomic walls we would truly appreciate that all men are created equal. Can you even imagine?

Meanwhile, back in Norman, two of my favorite courses at OU were Micro and Macroeconomics.  And not to brag, but the Teaching Assistant for our 100+ class did tell me that I had the “highest American score in the class…” So I’ve got that going for me. 

If you don’t remember, microeconomics is the study of individual economic factors and macroeconomics is the study of large-scale economic factors, such as interest rates and national productivity. Essentially personal or individual vs large scale, public.  What is fascinating is the relationship between the two - how microeconomic choices impact macroeconomic factors (and vice versa).

The more life I live, the more I see this micro/macro relationship in nearly every arena of our lives.  We recently had a client project that took us to Cleveland, OH; home of (among many other things) the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  As we took four hours reading, watching, reminiscing and listening, I was struck by the idea that most artwork and especially music is conceived or born in highly intimate moments.  For example, on display in the “Rock Hall” was a very small, very simple black piano relocated from a dank basement in Liverpool, England.  Side by side, two teens squeezed onto one piano bench playing notes and hashing out songs that we are still singing a lifetime later.  John Lennon described he and McCartney as being “eyeball to eyeball”. That micro genesis of those songs is very far away from the macro revolution that became the Beatles.

You really get a sense of that with the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.  These are grandiose celebrations of hundreds of “alone moments” when someone was in their living room or basement running over notes or lyrics again and again and again until they grew into the songs we love and laud today.  Then after those private songs have grown into national pop anthems, we sing them in stadiums and place them in the “Hall of Fame”.

We live our whole lives in a micro/macro fashion.  We have what we call our “private lives” (micro) and our “public lives” (macro).  In some cases these lives can have a disconnect.  Depending on your job or position you may have beliefs or values that can’t be expressed freely in your public position. (And for some of you that’s not a bad thing.  Not everyone is prepared for your theory on UFO’s and alternate realities.)

We have personal freedoms and liberties that influence and even sometimes overrule our national freedoms.  From the beginning of this nation we’ve watched the struggle between our personal liberty and what’s best for the greater good of a nation we are also responsible for as willing members.

We have our micro world where we live and interact with our neighbors and family and community and then we have our macro world…how we vote.  Often we can have a very big disconnect there.  We can be “okay” with people on a micro level, but giving them the same voice, same freedoms, same equality as us may not fit our macro vision for America.

And then there’s our inner dialog.  How often do we judge our micro (inner) lives by macro (societal) norms.  “If people knew what I was thinking…” Or “I know I’m the only one who feels this way…”. That micro/macro conflict can often lead to shame or isolationism.  One of the most harmful thoughts I think a person can have is, “I’m the only one who feels/thinks this way.” Those who end up harming themselves or others, often start here.

So, what does all this mean?  I haven’t got a clue. I didn’t take that course. I ran out of credit hours.  But isn’t the connection interesting, the relationship between private and public lives, between our micro world and macro universe?  What is undeniable is that one influences the other and vice versa.  We live in constant connection with the outer world and how we live our “private” lives will directly or indirectly impact our “public” community. Our isolationism or involvement both have a ripple effect. What happens in our “thought world” will germinate into our physical world.  To that end, maybe we should better take care of our thoughts and what we let live in our minds.  Maybe we should each do a better job of plucking out judgements and suspicions and self-loathing like weeds so they don’t take over the landscape of our lives.

On the flip side, the beauty we create (art, music, words, relationships) all this also impacts our world.  As Carole King (Rock Hall of Fame Inductee) wrote in a solitary moment that went public in her song “Beautiful”:

You've got to get up every morning

With a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart

Then people gonna treat you better

You're gonna find, yes you will

That you're beautiful, as you feel

I guess that’s about it for this month, my friends.  Whether it’s micro or macro, I’m happy to be connected with you.  Cheers.