Month: June 2024

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Shades of Life; Shades of Learning

Kathy Jourdain, Jerry Nagel, and I recorded our 9th Shades of Life Conversation. Listen here.

These conversations are a delight. They are playful. Yet also purposed.

Shades of Life: Shades of Learning.

When I think “shades” I think hue (a particular family of colors), comfort (a shade tent), and expression (unique flavor). Our conversations have each of these.

Hue — I’d name the shade family as anchored in curiosity. And wonder. And in kind exploring.

Comfort — I’d name the shade comfort of our conversation as camaraderie. And laughter. And delighted expectation.

Expression — I’d name the unique flavor as desire to connect. And desire to feel alive in learning. And desire to dance with insight.

It’s really nice journey. And I think really nice pattern for how to be in learning community. Or friend communities that learn.

Enjoy the listen.

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Mary Oliver Instructions

Coot, Utah, Qquirrh, Kayak, Simplicity, Astonished, Mary Oliver

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

That’s Mary Oliver’s words — “Instructions for Living a Life.” Mary Oliver, the Ohio-born poet whose words are so often guide for me. She died in 2019. Here words, of course live on. And live on guiding many.

I love the simplicity. It’s instructions for living a life. It’s also a good game plan for what to do today. It’s also good guidance for the meeting. Or for that book that I need to read. Or for that garage that needs to be tidied. Or for the leadership team event next month.

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

Got to kayak yesterday. First of the season. With Dana and a couple of other loved ones. We were on Oquirrh Lake. It’s urban. The bird life is astonishing. The bird sound too. Coots that go with Yellow-Headed Blackbirds, and Barn Swallows, and Mallards, and Geese, and Sparrows.

Above is a Coot from the paddle. Near her nest. We saw all kinds of little Coots, from barely days old to a couple of weeks old.

Mamas were protective, keeping little ones close. Mama’s were teaching, diving to the bottom to pull up a bit of greenery and then feed to baby Coots.

Can’t help but feel delight. I love being still on the water in a kayak. I love doing it with people I care about. Some astonishment together.

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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