Harrison, very interesting that you mention this and bring it in a second time. This is exactly my biggest learning from my first big OS. It so happened that I didn't sleep more than 5 hrs per night during the event, which lasted from Thursday afternoon (preparation group) through Friday afternoon (arrival of the participants) to Sunday afternoon. And I had to pay for it on Sunday - my presence fort he process was not anymore what it could have been, the thank you round did not happen the way it should have happened.
Luckily, I get a second chance with the same sponsor, and we all learned tremendously from the first experience (other things, too...). This coming Thursday, same place, similar team, OS on "Living with HIV - no problem these days!?". This time, I will - take good care of my sleeping hours (e.g., listen to the Jazz concert, but not dance afterwards, but go to sleep) - see to it that I eat enough - have 2 - 3 assistants helping me with the community room - have a translator beside me - have the luxury of a personal coach to help me take good care of myself and keep my roles clear, in addition to reflecting the process and next steps with me. In addition, the sponsor is doing everything he can to keep me out of the office. He has made clear several times that my task is the process and nothing else (we do have a big team of assistants in all necessary areas!). He has even appointed himself the boss and coordinator of the event to ensure I can be fully present for the process. I think this is what he wants me to be, nothing more and nothing less. (Of course, he is also very sensitive to being controlled - which matches my need to know everything is okay for everybody perfectly... - but nevertheless, his insisting I focus on the process and on being present is impressive and quite a gift for me!) Cross your fingers form e - I believe I am getting a little nervous, at last... :) Catherine Catherine Pfaehler Senn Open Space Begleitung & Coaching Kellersriedweg 8 CH - 2503 Biel +41-(0)32 - 365 68 41 [email protected] -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Harrison Owen [mailto:[email protected]] Gesendet: Sonntag, 15. Oktober 2006 23:45 Betreff: Taking Care of Yourself One of the sub themes in the "Market Place" item is all about taking care of yourself. At least that was one of my themes. :-) And I think it is real important. There is something about us "do-gooders" (and I think most of us qualify) that says if you are not suffering and sacrificing, you are not doing a good job. And God forbid you should ever think about taking care of yourself, and even for a moment - and certainly not at the "expense" of the client, if only because they are paying you (or might be). I think this dog does not hunt - sorry for the "Americanism" - but the translation is - Rubbish! If you don't take care of yourself, you surely can't take care of anybody else. That doesn't mean you should not go the "extra mile," make the best effort, and/or all that sort of stuff. But I think we also have the responsibility to keep a careful eye on our "fuel tanks" (physical, mental, and emotional). When you are running on empty - you don't run. Everybody has to deal with this in their own way. And with a 70 year old body/mind/whatever I will deal with it quite differently than some younger folks. But we all (I think) have the responsibility to pace ourselves and keep a careful eye on the territory. There is a pattern and flow in every OS. You can not calculate it by the minute, but the ebb and flow of energy and need are very real and rather predictable. In the "Opening" you are IT. No place to run, no place to hide - you are the one. And in a lot of situations people's lives (if not their livelihood) hang in the balance. It is not stretching a point to say that you have their lives in your hands. But only briefly, and you do not "own" the lives. So turn them loose and let them go. And then, for goodness sake - take care of yourself. Maybe you are not the napping sort, but a short walk can be wonderful. And the time will come when your presence/focus will be critical. Ready? Just a thought. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> * * ========================================================== [email protected] ----------------------------- To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
