The experience and opportunity of being in Open Space as participants is probably one of the biggest gifts of all of the WOSonOS. I invite those of us who were there to notice and share what happens inside of us, to notice how we felt before we got together, how we were at different times while we were there and then in the days, weeks and months that follow, what seeps into our mind, our heart and our being. I want to do this for myself as somehow I know that noticing deeply will make me a better facilitator and someone who can better serve future sponsors and participants. Perhaps by noticing, I can also find ways to engage better in the pre-work and post-work helping them anchor the experience for themselves in a way that never defines, predicts or seeks outcome.
For me, almost at a cellular level, I remember these times of being in Taiwan, in Toronto, in San Francisco and now in Berlin and I feel and see wonderful patterns. Here are a few of my own personal examples: Before: - A positive anticipation greatly enhanced with the NING website that Holger set up - Super excited to reconnect with people I met before and delighted at knowing that I will put faces to names I read - Still feeling rushed as before, not feeling fully prepared or as quiet inside as I want, still caught up in the activities of leaving (projects underway, packing, travel, etc). - Regretting somehow that I wanted to think more of the topics that I am passionate about before arriving telling myself that I will simply accept to just live in the moment and be prepared to be surprised - I also notice what I am not doing: re-reading all the materials available, appreciating the organizing team but not thinking too much about all the things they are probably doing because after all, I am just a participant now. Feel a bit like a jerk that I'm not appreciating them more when I know how hard they must be working but then, this tells me that participants in my facilitated events aren't think about that either. During: - A whirlwind feeling from the moment I walk in the door; almost overwhelmed with the beauty of the setting, the large number of people in the room and the joy of seeing many familiar faces. - As I sit in the circle, it is hard to quiet myself down; I am not listening as well to the instructions, to the welcome, to the facilitator -So many topics, so many I am passionate about - Vivid intense breakout sessions, learning, listening and feeling fully present - Meals and snacks, more intensity with quick conversations here and there, hearing the background noise, feeling the energy, many hugs, many smiles, hard to balance the plates and the beverages through it all; can't even quite remember what I eat or even if I eat. - Back in the circle for evening news, morning news, feeling very present. Moments of great intensity feeling myself completely engaging with those who are speaking and whatever is happening; surprised to feel myself reacting inside as strongly as I do (with compassion, with humor, frustrated, happy, interested, the whole gamut) - The reports, not as curious about them as I'd expect. What I know now is that this will come later. I will read every sentence when I get home when it is more quiet. For now, the important thing was to be in the groups I was in, fully engaged. - The stolen times together, one on one, in small groups, in restaurants, outside and everywhere, like the conference coffee breaks of the past, just as precious! After: - Watching and feeling what comes into my head and my being. - Amazed to notice the patterns, the affection I feel for those I met and a general overall feeling of warm community towards everyone. - A bit of loneliness already and now I also know to expect some confusion to set in a bit as the ideas for actions and new initiatives created in Berlin or yet to be created will emerge - I know I will be a changed person as I was every time before - Loving the special notes from friends on the Ning site saying goodbye, saying thank you; loving also all the photos of the faces who are there and as I see those faces, I feel and see them as they were in that beautiful church in Berlin - And then now finally, so very much gratitude for all those who prepared and facilitated this event, wishing somehow that I could have told them more how much I appreciated what they did and knowing how very tired they must because they worked so very hard. This is just a sample with a few examples that make me reflect/think/feel what it is like for a Participant in Open Space. I am reminded of a quote in the book : What the bleep do we know? "Our brain processes 400 billion bits of information per second, but we are only aware of 2,000 bits at any one time – usually information about our environment, body, and time.”. Now all I can say is that in Open Space, the experience is ALWAYS intense and very different from those typical meetings, conferences and gatherings. I enjoyed being a participant "reacting in the moment", delighted that I could live it that way, letting go and letting be. Yes it helps me be a better facilitator knowing that my experience here is what participants probably feel too and so much more. Thank you Berlin and OS friends. Suzanne -- Suzanne Daigle NuFocus Strategic Group 7159 Victoria Circle University Park, FL 34201 FL 941-359-8877; CT 203-722-2009 www.nufocusgroup.com s.dai...@nufocusgroup.com * * ========================================================== 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