Human to Human

Glad to sit with a few basics this morning. The simplicity of Garden Mums. The joy of recently picked Daffodils. The centering of a candle.

Flowers and folks both bring joy. Those folks — that’s my Mom and Dave — stayed with Dana and me over the last five days. Myrna, my Mom is 81. Pretty spry. Dave, my Stepdad is 76. Also spry. They’re both playful. Kind. Centering. What a treat to welcome them. What a treat to weave our lives together.

Some days — it’s flower and folks like these that guide. That add perspective and beauty to the inherent rushing intensity that is Monday work that needs attention.

Basics.

I’m hosting a group this week. It’s a Leadership Retreat, part of a 6-month Leadership Cohort. It’s a program that my colleague Glen and I have created together. We are helping to shape and invite stories. And learning. And many simple forms of connecting. And growth.

It looks a bit like the above on Day 1. Some tables for Cafe. A Circle turned to one another. Some easy partner conversations. Some harvest of wisdom from the group. And sometimes, even a bit of a blur.

Day 2 continues us. As we’ve shared with this group, further into the stew. Helping bring insight, courage, community to their accountabilities and imagination.

The Grand Finale is a poem of perspective. I’m glad to listen to it this morning (thx Meg for sending it). Perspective on age. On clarity. On accomplishment. And, as so often speaks to me, on belonging to such many human conditions.

Enjoy the listen. I did.

Was glad to be in a recent conversation with Dave Fearon on his Practice Podcast. Dave is a life-long teacher and explorer. He’s an elder in the field of organizational development. He’s a kind and sweet man. He likes to laugh and he likes to learn. I’m inspired by all of that.

He named our episode as “bringing out the best in us.” Flattered to hear that of me. And, it’s a quality I know in Dave.

Enjoy a listen.