Thank you, Harrison, for inviting the question of what we each have learned - about Open Space about ourselves, and about organizations in / about / via Open Space.
One day in 2000 I decided I really needed to go to a certain workshop - even though I had no idea what it was about. It turns out it was a week-long workshop on and in Open Space, led by this bloke named Harrison. It also turns out that over half of the participants attending also had no idea why they needed to be there but needed to be there. (In fact, one guy posted a topic 'why am I here?' and that was one of the richest discussions we had!) As Harrison spoke each morning I felt I heard the words in my very cells - for that is what truth is like when someone else speaks it - you know it, as well, right when they are saying it. With other amazed, delighted and thoughtful people I jumped into Open Space and twirled and floated and soared and swooped and glided and tumbled and fluttered and zoomed in Open Space. I'd felt like I had found my tribe, and I hadn't known I'd been lost before that - only that (as brother Chris mentioned) I had found home. Since then I've opened space for one person, for 1500 people all speaking different languages meeting in a huge airplane hangar, for great big teamster guys banging their chests and roaring at each other, for 850 young people holding concurrent sessions on everything from racism to chess to child slavery to teaching the Chicago Hustle (a dance), for doctors and nurses fighting the AIDS epidemic, for Catholic parishioners co-creating the Diocese's strategic plan, for top management and housekeepers of a luxury golf resort property...and I've posted sessions on and in silence and in movement and in spoken word. ...oh the places you go in Open Space. I've learned... ...that when you work in Open Space you get to be hired by visionaries creating breathing and sparks and nutritious environments in their organizations and communities... ...that if you mess with it by thinking you need to help and solve and soothe you can squish it like a soufflé... ...that even an animated personality such as me becomes completely invisible as soon as space opens... ...that people who bring in Open Space to their organizations, communities and conferences are brave and have faith and believe in the wisdom of the collective... ...that I'm addicted to being able to witness people re-discovering that they are amazing and they can do anything they set their minds and creativity to... ...that listening, truly listening, is often more powerful than solving... ...that like bodywork and other holistic health approaches, Open Space is helpful on an ongoing basis to keep things healthy and flexible, not just when something hurts... ...that this global community of facilitators, learners and enthusiasts of Open Space are a special tribe and that our work and our connection makes me feel that we help to weave the world together... ...that the best way to further one's work and one's learning is by being generous... ...that whatever happens and whenever and whomever and be prepared because the best thing always happens in the best way possible if you just let go and open your arms wide enough...it's just that it doesn't always happen as or when or how you expected it... ...that it's very easy to live in Open Space - for some people it just takes a little practice but it gets easier all the time... - - - ...and so I pass the talking stick, or listening stone, or computer mouse...to the next one of my fellow OSniks. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts and reflections... Take care, fellow navigators of Open Space, Lisa ___________________________ L i s a H e f t Consultant, Facilitator, Educator O p e n i n g S p a c e 2325 Oregon Berkeley, California 94705-1106 USA +01 510 548-8449 lisah...@openingspace.net www.openingspace.net * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
