Dear Suzanne,
Thanks so much for this heartfelt report. Being privileged to be on the
Open Space Institute board - I heard a much more comprehensive report
just some hours ago now - and I felt powerfully the impact of having
such a diverse group of people and watching stereotypes and
preconceptions morph and transmute just by opening space and letting it
happen.
If any of you get the chance - it's well worth it hearing the impact and
the details from Suzanne in person. Or ask Chuni or Karen as well, as
they're both on the OSI-US board and I heard verbal reports from both of
them. The event sounded truly profound. But - what else is new with Open
Space!
Cheers,
Harold
On 1/21/13 6:43 PM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
An International Open Space in New York City with Harrison Owen and
Karen Davis (Ralph Copeland there in spirit)
Sitting on a plane, I am reliving the experience, the sounds, the feel
and the memory of an amazing Open Space! Three blissful days with 25
to 30 or so colleagues, friends, and strangers who became friends.
Climbing the well-worn steps to this reverential and familiar place on
that first morning, I am greeted by a simple circle of chairs, a few
beautiful artifacts and a cascading bouquet of flowers in the middle
of the floor with the early morning sunlight dancing into the room
signaling the beginning of a brand new day.It feels like I am "coming
home!" The Practice of Peace is working its magic already.
Memories of WOSonOS London, another place in another space, soon
tumble in and along with it, the excitement and nervous energy
surrounding the upcoming "World Open Space on Open Space" that will be
happening in St. Petersburg Florida from May 16^th to May 19^th , 2013.
Finding the words to summarize what transpired at International House
this past weekend is as daunting as creating a work of art, crafting a
piece of literature or writing a symphony.How can one capture on a
blank canvass, a sheet of paper or a computer screen, the essence of
what happened there in all its layers and complexities, the stuff that
is "real life" lived?And yet, it is no different than the hundreds of
thousands of other times in Open Space when diverse people in
different parts of the world came together to share, learn, explore,
discover and engage on something that they are "passionate" about and
want to "take responsibility" for.
*Learning about Open Space by experiencing Open Space *was the
invitation giving a chance to many to try their hand at "opening the
space", "evening news" , "morning news" and "closing circle". And I
know you would all have been as inspired as I watching people take to
their roles like fish to water. Another indication that facilitating
Open Space is something that can easily be learned though its practice
is a lifelong journey.
*Our THEME:*
*Opening Space for Peace and High Performance:*
**Self-organizing**for Myself, Others and our Planet
People came from Pittsburg, from Cleveland, from Canada, from Arizona,
from Chile, from Oregon, from Maryland, New Jersey and New York City.
They came from Newtown Connecticut, from Occupy Wall Street, from
business, from education, from privilege and less wealth, from
community organizing and community service, pastors, engineers,
education, finance, activists, theatre, media, consultants, students
and retirees. Different backgrounds and ages, small towns, big cities
and worldwide travelers, diverse in ways that were visible and less
visible which invited the extreme spectrums of jarring and
heartwarming conversations, lots of reflection, human beings finding
each other and connecting when we least expected it while living this
mix of harmony, confusion, chaos and clarity that is the stuff of real
life -- the self-organizing and wave riding that Harrison speaks and
writes about. How ironic that we spend so much of our life "organizing
self-organizing".
Yes we were all on a mission to make the world we live in a better
place.And in that shared mission, time stood still in a way that made
it expand.A spirit of hope, love, purpose and gratitude connected us
deeply in closing circle on the third day. Nothing new really... it
happens every time when we open some space in our lives, when we take
the time to breathe a bit and to notice and appreciate who we are and
what we have.And when that happens whether in community, in the
workplace, with friends and/or family, something indescribable
happens. It happened in New York City at International House between
January 18^th and January 20^th .
Thank you Karen, thank you Harrison and thank everyone for these
wonderful three days!
*On a personal note...*
A short follow-up to something I wrote this past December, while in
the hospital in Maine with my mom. Two years ago, I was in this same
place at International House, having lost my dad a month earlier.
There, I found peace and healing as I grieved his passing, feeling
very connected to him then because dad shared a birthdate with
Harrison, loved martinis and admired his book: _Open Space Technology,
A User's Guide_
On January 1^st 2013, my mom passed away.I had a deep longing to
return to New York again. It was even more peaceful this time and I
was again deeply soothed. And then something else happened on Sunday
night and Monday morning when I visited Chuni Li's family -- Chuni,
from Taiwan now living in New Jersey who I had met in New York at this
event 2 years ago.I was greeted by Chuni's mom and mother-in-law with
bountiful hugs and comfort food, lovingly prepared.And then, as if
this was not enough, her dad wrote us a poem in Chinese, beautiful
words and calligraphy on special paper -- something I could take home
with me that spoke of this Open Space event at International House and
how special he knew it had been for the two of us, Harrison and
others. The tears flowed then feeling the warm embrace of my extended
family, the Li family.
This NEVER would have happened without Open Space in my life, a
technology I was drawn to initially to do good in the workplace, which
invited me to so much more.It invited me to my life and living it
fully as if "coming home" to who I am at the core.
Now as we prepare our welcome to Florida for all of you, I know the
spirit of New York, of London2012, of Chile2011, Berlin2010 and
Taiwan2009 will weave themselves into the magical surprise of what
will happen at WOSonOS2013 in St. Petersburg.
Thank you for your patience these past few months as you await
information to make your plans for Florida. I promise that we will
soon be sending you the detailed information you need to book your
tickets to be with us at WOSonOS 2013.
Suzanne now back in Florida
--
Harold Shinsato
har...@shinsato.com <mailto:har...@shinsato.com>
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
