Work Day

There were many gifts today, Susan and her husband help set up the video and LCD projector with way cool sound, a mom popped in to pick up her daughter who was walking in tardy every day and I had just removed milady's cell phone - to return it with explanation to her mom, the kids got really excited about their inventions. They are adorable, having nuclear fission powered fridges that eject a soda can at 400 miles - their creativity and vision for what is possible lights up their faces; there's an excitement in their voices and gestures. The kids are all settling down to work with minimal disruption. Lovely.

Acknowledgments: the classes, Susan and her husband

Wiped down the bathroom sink, picked up papers off floor, re-organized the piles of papers at the back counter.

Easy Day

My job is to be happy. Everything went smoothly, had lots of fun with the kids, over dramatized to teach what learning attitude is not - got lots of giggles and laughs, their work is looking amazing. Acknowledged Susan for being such a greater teacher getting such high quality products from her kiddies. The day zoomed by so fast, with lots of energy left for the remainder. Picked up stuff off the floor, moved objects left in the middle of the hall to the side walls where they were safer and less likely to be stepped on, slipped on.

Nina left today, taking all her stuff with her, lots of hugs. Tomorrow, I'm hosting swing dancing for both the Meet Up group and Wisdom group - bliss.

Mercury Game

I stayed home for the most part of the day, had my coaching call with Deenie, that was fabulous to be in conversation where everything is possible and be in a space where generativity takes place. The whole aspect of one anonymous good deed quite easily becomes several without putting too much thought into it, just remembering to log it in is amazing to me. I notice how I used to struggle with coming up with just one annonymous good deed, and now in the swing of it all, one follows another.

Today Mike acknowledged me for many wonderful things and that felt ever so good. Nina has negotiated to come home tonight so she can pack and get herself organized to leave on Tuesday. Went to the Mercury game, and that was delightful, in play, enjoying every moment, hearing the excitement, the screams of delight and anguish among the audience. Truly pleasant.

Noise: choice between dating someone who is in Landmark, or someone who is not. Is that noise, making wrong, or do I look at it from the point of view of is it workable.

Peaceful Day

Today was a peaceful, quiet, fun day with Nina. We did all the girly shopping things together. Noticed and arrested whatever judgments I might have around fashion creating the form as object. Met and acknowledged Andrea for being such a great mom, returned scattered shoes to their rightful spots, quickly finished eating in time to give up my prime lunch table for someone who was just stepping out with a trayful of food (love people watching) .

Break Through

Today I shared with my Wisdom online community my courageous moment of cleaning up and being complete with my ex-husband in acknowledging where I was at fault through the marriage and divorce and having that resolved. It was an uplifting experience creating an opening for a different way of relating - having the past totally healed and behind for everyone, including Nina. I acknowledged him for his contribution as dad, especially today in being there for Nina because she needed technology back up and he proofed her dissertation (which had me nodding off). The breakthrough was getting through my noise. Huge release.

Yesterday, my other annonymous good deed was to leave my change to cover a student who might be short in paying for their lunch or drink at the food kiosk. I think I might walk over at the beginning of lunch and leave small change for that instance more often.

Today, it was the usual let someone in during traffic, wave someone on, pass on the first parking spot and take the second one, re-stack some books on the shelves outside the bookstore.

Reflection

Tons of annonymous good deeds - it's easy when I'm out and about. Folded untidy piles of clothes at a store when no one was looking, picked up trash, a student had her notebooks and belongings scattered (kicked about) all over the hallway after the rush and I picked up the pieces and set it in a nice neat pile by the wall (everyone was in class). I notice I am more mindful of what's around me and one annonymous good deed follows another with ease. Somethings become an everyday occurence, picking up trash, letting others cut into traffic.

I can see why acknowledgment is easiest with those who serve, because that's just a given. I continue to acknowledge the student as an individual and the class as a whole along with.

Yes I can totally see what I say as noise and I notice that however I word my advice (through my experience) triggers the need for the recipient to give advice, and I in turn get to hear that as noise - kinda like a ping pong effect. I created my own noise today in running my racket about making someone wrong and it left me feeling powerless and empty. My daughter, Nina, acknowledged all the cool things about the situation and I was completely enrolled. It's wonderful to have that created for me, restorative and aaaaaaaaah.

Breaking recurring conversations is something I am aware of this week. Things that come up over and over again, I can release and let go, notice what is, and elect to play with conversation that breaks the pattern with a clearing for something fresh, different, or a moment for reflection. It leaves me and the other in a space of "choice."

Nina Time

I picked up Nina from the airport and it is wonderful visiting with her. I needed to stop my noise in my listening to young student, Rachel, who wanted to know what to do if a boy she doesn't like wants to date her. This is huge in her world, and in my listening I had my voices saying I needed to run out in time to collect Nina, this is insignificant, it will pass.... Being 100% present I changed my structural language, shifted my body, and gave her my full attention, slowing the pace of my voice to create even more space for her in my life. The physiological change created a different way of listening and I could totally focus on her needs. The mind follows the body's intent. We both felt complete at the end of the conversation.

Acknowledgments: airport server, information desk, random students

Annonymous good deed: clearing and wiping down the table at the airport after I finished eating, tucking in the chair so the area is ready for the next person. Being aware of the environment, those around me and how I contribute to make it a better place.

Two Posts

Likely there will be two posts. What I'm noticing is that the other person gets to talk a lot, tons and tons. Spot light is all on them and I get to be a listening wall. Is that's what's supposed to happen? Oh wait... that's my noise.

Dancing

During conversation with Laura this evening I offered prompts so she could continue to be fully self-expressed and noticed the difference between noise and being of service. This was her second time out with the Meet Up group and she was happy to get out and carve a life for herself. I also pulled her onto the dance floor with the dancing group she danced with smiles. My annoymous good deed might be asking Kermit to ask her to dance - I'll do that next time. I tend to want to do the good deed in person without thinking about it, my strong suit?

It's easiest restraining myself from interrupting, being my racket, with strangers, or people I almost sort of know. I am more mindful when I speak with someone I do know. Interesting.

Acknowledgments: the young lady packing up the table to leave, the young gentleman serving us and the other one who made our meal. It creates a space of cheerfulness in coming and going, leaving me with the sense of peace.

August 17

During group conversation I notice my need to add or interrupt and I literally restrain, force my mouth to remain closed (structural), look at Sue and Sally and neither seem to notice my lack of contribution. In fact, they are really get into expressing themselves and their faces light up. The thread of that conversation has a space to close.

At the base of my need for adding to conversation is my expression "I am important, I count, and take me seriously." I want to be seen as knowledgeable and all grown up. It's all "I" centered and about my needs and it comes across that way. This is the source of my racket and its around domination or avoiding domination.

Today, the good deed was to have Sally extend the invitation to Janet to join us for "happy meal" (we are non-alcoholics). Janet is a new administrator who works endlessly, and declined because her husband is leaving this weekend.

These are my acknowledgments given verbally: my students for having great learning attitudes, rising to the challenge of trying something different, the parents last night for attending open house to be related to their children and be a stand for their success. Today, I completed with the class those who invited/parents who came/did not come and acknowledged them as students. I notice my first week of school has been stress less, easy, and filled with lots of smiles.

Wisdom Journal

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Wisdom Homework: To observe noise (trying to give advice) in conversation, do an annonymous good deed that the recipient will use, and journal outcome.

Observation:

I kept thinking what I'm thinking is Noise as Susan talks, and I can see how she has a conversation that loops into what she wants to talk about - what's truly important to her, her daughter leaving for Korea last night. I try to differentiate between noise and perpetration withhold and realize that it's all noise. Nothing I can say forwards anything or makes the difference. This is a disappearing conversation. I notice that I want to say something that shows I know my stuff (she's my mentor teacher, department lead) and have to refrain because I can see it's like being one up on someone.

It's hard to break the pattern, habit of noise making, and I find myself slipping, catching myself erupting noise and immediately see the impact it has on relatedness - we aren't. The empowering habit is being present in my listening.

Annonymous Good Deed
Today, I looked for ways to contribute anonymously, and could not see an opening. Yesterday was easier, let someone cut in traffic. In fact, today, I cut off someone and then realized that I could be gracious and let someone in as a good deed. After thought. Perhaps I might pick up post it notes and pop them on secretary's desk, thank you cards, something to slip on their desk? Maybe put something on the parked car window that would make a difference? Wondering what could I do to generate a "Pay it forward" motion.

All is well.