Category: Leadership
-
The meeting place
Love and faithfulness meet together Righteousness and peace kiss each other. Ps. 85:10 Alan facilitated this exercise, personifying Mercy. Truth. Justice. Peace. It is a brilliant exercise – though as I was talking with Nicole, the youth has a harder time extrapolating and understanding the reason for these four, if they never experienced war. Nicole believe…
-
Izidor at ROM
After the morning session I had 5 minutes to set expectations regarding the movie night and discussion afterwards. It was actually perfect. I often worry about the wrong expectations as it can sabotage even a great event. So I said that the film is inspired by the true story of Izidor Ruckel. Abandoned as a…
-
How frameworks change the perspective
Rachel is so smart, I worry that few can catch all the nuances & intricacies of her presentations. There is so much depth in the content she shares always. She started the conference talking about the identity under attack When a group feels under attack they go into defensive mode. When a group is not…
-
Rules of engagement
Before I know my audience closely, I like to take to the stage and make myself known. When I focus too much on the individual eyes in the crowd, I get distracted. I am afraid I would filter too much of myself – or I would have to make a conscious effort to stay on…
-
Reflection on anOther:
During empathy night I could have shared. But initially Conrad was supposed to do so. His perspective. His take on infertility & adoption. We need more male perspectives on this topic. I was glad he offered. That morning I was invited to facilitate the evening sharing. I was glad to do it. But that put…
-
What does it mean to be “another”?
When in English we refer to “another” something, we imply that it is one of a group of things. “Another car in traffic” , “Another person at the party”. “Another tree in the forest”, etc. “Another” implies inherent belonging, even if arbitrary. Labeling someone as just another person in the room leaves out any distinguishing…
-
My daughter
Selective & loyal Strong willed and sarcastic She speaks her mind Even as empathy rules her heart I have had a front row seat to her becoming And I know my personality & influence imprinted certain traits I love her wholly & completely Generously & freely She owes me nothing But I feel her generous…
-
sharing bravely
They chose well for each other. In many ways inspiring me with their maturity and self-awareness, and well as ease in friendships and strong faith. I don’t like giving advice, but as their god parents I have asked for permission to share the things that I wished someone shared with me before I got married.…
-
Projected belief
Kids become what we believe about them. So the challenge is adjusting our belief and our approach, to shape their character, their behavior, their self awareness. When my kids were annoying, I stopped to notice what exactly bothered me, whether I was the problem, or if I could help shape their behavior. I believed it’s…
-
Words & confidence
Can you fabricate self-confidence? And if you could, would you do it? Talking about the past, as we sometimes do, I stop and tell Jackie: “Wow, what an interesting life you have!” To which she replies, matching my enthusiasm: “I know, right?” Our kids are not victims. They have agency. The way we relate to…
-
Teen prayer & budding romance
A decade ago she would cling onto me to stay a little longer. After the bedtime stories, we would pray and then she would ask questions. Sometimes the questions were triggered by the prayer. But mostly we would unpack the day. And we would talk. There were many times I longed to escape. To go…
-
Entrepreneurial mindset
Kids may surprise us many times over if we are open to the possibilities. I don’t presume to know what they will do in life, even as I notice inclinations, interests, aptitudes. It is delightful to notice and image the possibilities. My left-handed junior, the visual learner, the technical and the architect type, she struggled…