I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live |
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Hello, friends! I hope you are well as we start another month. February gave me art, music, professional development, and no shortage of reflection time.
I saw a live performance of "Mountain Top" by Shadow Theatre. This play by Katori Hall is a re-imagining of the last night of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life (April 03 1968). It was a moving and compelling experience.
I attended a few webinars and also completed the Accredited Director (Acc.Dir.) designation through the Chartered Governance Institute. I am proud of accomplishing this and it was so good to have dialogue with others who are interested in being competent directors.
Another valued board member I've worked with passed away and I watched the memorial service on-line. It's a good reminder to manage our expectations re our volunteer board members, because they have so much else going on in their lives. Rest in peace, Bill Johnson.
I had a quick trip to Calgary as well as a few (long overdue) days in Golden. I am still not writing, but as the world opens up more I know the inspiration will find me.
I was astonished to read that "What
Colour Is Your Parachute" is now 50 years old! Here is an interesting article on how it has kept reinventing itself to keep with the times. I would still recommend it!
Years ago, my favourite WCIYP exercise was this: 1) Go through the table of contents of the phone book (remember those?!) and highlight anything that excites you. 2) Combine similar items and look for themes. 3) Consider those themes for your next career or job.
At the time, some things were no surprise (vintage clothes/consignment, board/office support related, drama/theatre), but one definitely was: Demolitions! To this day my eyes light up when I see the perfection of a building coming down (here is a video of 5). There is still room in my working life for this to happen, so I stand by the effectiveness of "What Colour Is Your Parachute."
I went to West Edmonton Mall to get up close and personal with some rescued animals. While it was my dream to hug a sloth, I could only see Barry (that's his name) through the glass. A thoughtful friend gave me a stuffed one instead, and it helped. I also was shamed into petting a couple of tortoises and a python. My comfort zone was shattered, but I did it.
So let's make way for a marvelous March! (And start pulling together our income tax stuff).
/lmwe
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"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.“
-- Warren Buffet
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Grenny, an author of "Crucial Conversations", hit on what my friends and I have been talking about. The entire article is worth your time; I've cherry-picked from their study for my own ends.
Here’s the upshot: Not only are people more afraid to speak up at work than they were 18 months ago, but the magnitude of the fear has skyrocketed. Ninety per cent of respondents felt emotionally or physically unsafe speaking their minds; 29% felt unsafe daily or weekly.
Topics most dreaded? Political/social issues (74%) and Covid issues (70%). I feel you!
Grenny says, “When we talk about issues that are emotionally and politically risky, we tend to see the other person in a more negative light. We tell ourselves stories that portray us as virtuous victims and the other party as evil villains. This storytelling generates emotions of disgust and fear, which we bring into the conversation. These emotions further provoke the conflict, and lead to a downward spiral that reinforces our self-made judgment and feeds our negative feelings.”
Don't lose heart! Grenny offers tactics we can use to deescalate our own stories and step into conversations more effectively.
Make it safe. When emotions escalate, reassure others of your respect for them and point out values you both share.
Get curious. Rather than deciding “who is right,” aim to understand the world view of the other person. Ask, understand, be interested.
Start with facts, not judgments or opinions. Carefully lay out the facts behind your point of view. Use specific & observable descriptions.
Don’t focus on convincing. Your main goal is NOT to change the other person’s mind. Share ideas and listen before responding.
Be skeptical of your own point of view. Conversations work best when you come in with a combination of confidence and humility. Be confident that you have a point of view that is worth expressing, but humble enough to accept that you don’t have a monopoly on truth and new information might modify your perspective.
Own your right to have your opinion. Rather than rely on others to validate your right to your opinion, take responsibility to validate yourself.
Grenny concludes, "If our fear continues to cow us into silence, the result will not be peace but greater division." So let's not stoke our own fear through exaggerated judgments of one another. Instead, "Scrutinize your own stories and you’ll moderate the way you see others. Moderate the way you see others and you’re more likely to find a way to productive dialogue." It's worth a try, don't you think?
/lmwe
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"Truth will always be truth, regardless
of lack of understanding, disbelief,
or ignorance."
-- W. Clement Stone
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Some People Who Made Life Better in February |
Ginny Arnott-Wood, Jennifer Bertrand, Chantelle Chevrier Painter, Lori Bursey, David Cheoros, Mandy Foster, Wandy Hackney, Marg Hart, Rhonda Hjorth, Dianne Johnstone, Pat Macdonald, Sherrill McGilgray, David Miriguay, Margaret Nickel, Thomas Painter, Paul Rechner, Lori Schmidt, Sheila Steger, Joan Welch, Jenny Wood Narine
“You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.”
― Tina Fey
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Some Quotes I Like
"Before you assume, learn the facts. Before you judge, understand why.
Before you hurt someone, feel. Before you speak, think."
-- Author Unknown
“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”
― Albert Einstein
"As you live, believe in life! Always human beings will live and progress to
greater, broader, and fuller life."
-- W.E.B. Du Bois
"Sometimes you forget that just beyond the clouds the sun is shining."
-- Desmond Tutu
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Five Beers I Enjoyed in February
1. Alone Under the Vast Indifference of the Sky Belgian Style Imperial Stout w/Sour Cherries and Brettanomyces, Dageraad Brewing (Burnaby BC) 10.5% ABV
2. Pineapple Citra Sabro IPA, Field House Brewing (Abbotsford BC) 7% ABV
3. Widowmaker IPA, Backcountry Brewing (Squamish BC) 6.7% ABV
4. Irish Stout w/Whiskey and Sea Salt Anniversary Edition, Field House Brewing (Abbotsford BC) 4.2% ABV
5. Terror 2021 Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Winterlong Brewing (Whitehorse, YT) 10% ABV
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“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to
transform it into a door.”
― Coco Chanel
#BeKind
Linda & LUE-42 Enterprises
(With fond acknowledge to Douglas Adams & The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
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Linda Wood Edwards
P.O. Box 11021, Station Main,
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3K3
780.918.4200
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