Human to Human

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Joy Is An Outcome

Daybreak Utah, Ponds, Joy, Sunset, Reflection, Learning

One, I just like this picture.

Dana and I walked last night. Close to sunset. In the warm, dry evening of an Utah summer. There are a few ponds where we walk. I loved seeing this mamma duck with three ducklings in setting sun.

Joy.

Earlier in the day, I’d been reflecting on joy. On the importance of noticing joy — micro doses. Because they exist with the other micro and macros doses of sorrow and struggle. It’s grown-assed humaning to not forget that.

I’ve been learning — joy is an intention, a good one. Joy is an objective, a potent one. Joy is a deliverable, a fruitful one.

I asked it reflectively with a team yesterday — “As you think back on our weekend hosting together, what is one thing that brought you joy?”

I just like the picture. Yes. And I just like the enlivening that is joy.

Working this at a few layers. Glad for it. And for learning with others.

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A Pile of Connection; A Pile of Courage

Glad to have been with the 50 participants last Friday and Saturday. One of the participants named some core purpose during our World Cafe — “I love being a healer.” It came out of a conversation about what patients really want, and what’s possible?

Sometimes the shape is Circle. In a hotel ballroom. It’s hearth. to hold us. This particular hearth grew to include hard copy pictures of people that “inspire us to offer our best.”

Sometimes the shape is small tables. For cafe and other small group work. As I shared with the group, it’s a large group conversation held at small tables.

When I host and co-host groups like this, I so often relearn the core narrative and purpose. I relearn it because I witness it. I see it unfold in front of me.

The basics go something like this:

  • People want to learn.
  • People want to contribute.

So…,

  • Create a pile of connection.
  • What grows naturally out of that is a pile of courage.

And that brings us back to fulfillment

  • of a desire to learn
  • of a desire to contribute
  • of a desire to grow in craft
  • of a desire to grow as a community in craft

Pretty cool.

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Moved — A Poem of Claiming Transitions

Tenneson Woolf, Most Mornings, Moved, Prose, Claiming

In recent offering of my poetry, I shared that “most of my poetry is a response to a question that I’m wanting to understand or sometimes answer.”

This poem below is included in Most Mornings. “Moved” was a response to my questions about transitions. The kids getting older. Noting how things got different.

And then taking the personal to the universal. Naming that it is important for any of us to notice that we are meant to move our spirits, our souls. To be in transition. And to claim what inspires us, what we are “moved” to be.

Enjoy.

Moved

The kids are gone now.
Moved to their young-adult lives.
Partnered with people and with life.
Geographied more distantly.
Exploring life, as I”d always wished for them.

What once was semi-regular morning squeals of delight,
jumping on the bed,
has become periodic evening phone calls,
sharing questions or stories of learning from the day.

There comes a time,
when most of us need to face,
or confront,
or evolved,
who we are now moved to be.

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Such Richness

Oquirrh Lake, Daybreak, life lived richly
Ducks, Utah, learning, peace

Such richness.

The way setting sun
offers last goodnight
to rippling creek.

The way mamma duck
guides five little ones.

Such richness.

To know simple delights
in this rich life.

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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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asd
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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asd
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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