Christine thank you for your amazing appreciation and lovely open approach -
this will be wonder-full experience and I hope we get to hear your account of
it. I wish to apologise if I sounded upset about terminology - your English is
excellent and my other languages close to non-existent! I have an on-going
curiosity about the etymology and social meanings wrapped up (Constructs) in
our words and how they change from context to place and over time, and how they
can give rise to endless moments of 'surprise' :-)
In Frendship
Anne
>________________________________
> From: christine koehler via OSList <[email protected]>
>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
><[email protected]>
>Sent: Wednesday, 8 October 2014, 23:19
>Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
>
>
>
>Thank you all for your answers.
>It all makes sense, I realized I was dealing with my own fears because of the
>rush of the event and the
>location that was a challenge for me last week (a circus with terraces- right
>now the team found wonderful solutions and I am sure everything will be fine
>).
>
>
>Please forgive me for the strange words I used, I hope I did not hurt anyone.
>My English is what it is , learned as an adult, and I am not aware of
>mistakes or clumsiness when I write. I meant no offense. In French I am able
>to choose my words carefully, not in English. However I decided once that I
>would take the risk of offending people rather than not daring to write on
>this list. All your answers are too precious to me. It's also a very good way
>for me to learn proper English.
>
>
>Thank you very much Tree for your words. I am moved. I guess it must be
>difficult to read my fears projected on people with mental health
>disabilities. I guess you have to deal with this kind of behaviors quite
>often. So thank you again for taking the time to write it once more. For sure
>I will remember it.
>
>
>Especially as I share exactly what you write, my gratitude to Harrison who
>with Open Space helped me realize that my freedom was all in my own hands,
>within myself. And that my responsibility was to confront that, and not get
>trapped by my fears. But instead use my feet.
>
>
> I realize I am shyly beginning to use them (pretty difficult to learn,
>progress not constant, falling back into traps still too often). This time the
>traps for me was "doctors words". people who are supposed to know. But like
>me, who are trapped into their own fears. Maybe it will be my lifetime issue.
>
>
>I am reading Marianne Williamson words again
>"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we
>are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
>frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented,
>and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your
>playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about
>shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all
>meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God
>that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we
>let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the
>same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
>liberates others."
>This helps. I took my decision : everyone will be welcome, whoever he or she
>is. To teach us/me - or to touch us/me- with his/her light.
>
>
>Christine
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 10:41 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>...curious about the differing labels (and constructed meanings therein) -
>disability is an odd one for me when discussing psychiatric/mental health
>issues - checking with my UK cohorts - doesn't this sound a little fixed? We
>don't have cancer disabilities (etc). Some personality, learning and cognitive
>disorders are pretty much intrinsic to an individual (autism, for example).
>Some diseases excite the pharma world and the neuroscientists in seeking a
>lucrative cure. Most mental health is a weather system really?? Psychoses are
>helped with drugs and lots of the smarter kinds of help including self-help.
>Neuroses are often the natural if challenging and often extreme responses to
>life. The fsahions in terms of language around this area change constantly -
>so how do others read 'disability' in this 'diversely and variably abled'
>world?
>>yours curiously
>>Anne
>>
>>>________________________________
>>> From: R Chaffe via OSList <[email protected]>
>>>To: Therese Fitzpatrick <[email protected]>; World wide Open
>>>Space Technology email list <[email protected]>
>>>Sent: Monday, 6 October 2014, 1:17
>>>Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"who ever comes is the right people".
>>>
>>>Having spent the past 7 years working directly with persons with a diagnosed
>>>disability and 20 years working in the wider community (often with people
>>>under significant stress) the same challenge remains and that is to
>>>unconditionally accept people on their terms and as they are.
>>>
>>>The second challenge is give them the security of an Open Space where they
>>>can be heard, that is I need to listen.
>>>
>>>Rev Ray Richmond ( of the Wayside Chapel Kings Cross Sydney) gave me one
>>>rule and - harm to others is totally unacceptable and that is where a
>>>facilitator
must intervene to secure the space.
>>>
>>>Maslow highlighted the conditions under which people can reach their full
>>>potential and safety and security are two conditions that are essential.
>>>
>>>Facilitating Open Space I can only make one promise and that is to the best
>>>of my ability I will create and maintain a secure space where the
>>>participants can do what ever they do. I can only promise the environment
>>>not the outputs or the outcomes. The challenge to the sponsor is are they
>>>willing to let the participants choose?
>>>
>>>The law of two feet is always an option.
>>>
>>>Working with adult persons with a disability it is a wonder when they are
>>>given permission to actually do their own thing rather than play a role to
>>>meet others expectations. Too often I have found that these adults have
>>>been "micro managed" to a level very few of us would accept. When I
>>>released the shackles of this control the wealth of
contribution is spectacular.
>>>
>>>At the end of one Open Space event where the participants were encouraged to
>>>look for issues and opportunities in their work place. The participants
>>>were encouraged to make a paper aeroplane ( including one person who had
>>>spent most of her adult life to the age of 45 in mental institution). Then
>>>each ( with their own design) launched their aircraft. Each person was then
>>>asked to choose one flight that best described their "work place" ..... The
>>>insights and conversations that were shared were very rich - in their own
>>>way in their own words they gave a graphic and very accurate picture of the
>>>"workplace" and a set of opportunities which can only be describe as
>>>inspirational.
>>>
>>>As Harrison said the rewards outweigh the effort - trust the system and keep
>>>the space and of course a nap is always a good
option.
>>>
>>>Regards
>>>Rob
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
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