Click, click, click…that’s the sound of things clicking into place. This project that is my life has been under construction for quite some time. While this has been true for a few years, the last 11 months of upheaval simply accelerated a process that had already been underway. At this moment, it’s still a bit of a mystery about how things are going to look (unfolding takes a little while), but things are definitely falling into place.
Tonight I am grateful to know some really good people. As I have been pondering what’s next for me in terms of the work I want to be doing and other areas of my life, I am reaching out and talking to people who know me. What do you see that I cannot? What am I missing? What questions do I need to be asking myself? A few years ago I participated in an intensive leadership development program with a group of really cool, talented, creative folks. They are leaders, life coaches, trainers, teachers, peacemakers. They are awesome folks to be connected to, and I consider them friends as well as incredible resources. So I wrote to four of them (we were a cohort of 20 people) and asked if they would be willing to spend some time with me (and with each other) on a conference call to help me think through what directions I might take with my life. Each of them are talented coaches and fabulous human beings–they ask really good questions that draw out my own inner wisdom, and their insights, coupled with love and compassion warmed my heart, put a huge smile on my face, and inspired me to take some steps forward in some cool new directions.
Their thoughts and suggestions drew upon what they know about me (my music and other creative and professional pursuits) and were very valuable and deeply meaningful, but beneath all the ideas they shared was a tremendous amount of mutual respect and love between the five of us. I do not take for granted the connection that I share with these five and other members of our “tribe.” I am grateful for who they are as individuals as well as the collective energy and aliveness that comes forth every time a group of us gets together. I hope at some point to be able to return the favor to any and all of them for the time they were willing to spend with me on the phone today. If I can be there for them, I will be.
My heart goes out to people who walk in this world with few friends or family or people to whom they feel connected. I am grateful for the people I have drawn into my life over the years. I have been richly blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people–a close-knit family: my sibs and their spouses and children and my own wonderful kids, good friends and work colleagues, folks I volunteer with, etc. I hope to continue to be as good a friend and support for each of them as they have been for me. May we all know happiness, joy, and peace. So be it!
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