Suzanne and Harrison--
Thanks Harrison and Suzanne. What I picture from what you have each
written is opening space in an even more open manner. Lisa-style,
without words perhaps, just inviting with eyes and hugs and music or
humming or pictures or dancing with your hands....
:- Doug.
On 11/14/2013 03:09 PM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
Well Harrison... I guess I will need to reflect on that...or not so
much. Funny how when it gets real close, like really close, we do a lot
to eliminate the pain (for a mom, a child or whoever) and pain there was
when spaces around mom felt really closed and conversations seemed more
like interrogations.
Open Space was never like that for me so... I will open myself up and
tell myself that whatever I did to make some of the hurt go away was not
controlling or wrong, it was simply Life and Open Space. And I guess
that's the point that I'm getting right now.
So Doug, perhaps what I can imagine now through and with Open Space is
that more and more people would have opportunity to be with each other
in the way that Open Space invites us to be with each other. And there
would be much that would be good that would happen -- loving connections
with new insights I imagine.
Like wow, I can feel a few knots in my stomach feeling myself shift a
belief that I was so certain about.
Thank you for this rich insight Harrison. But I do still have those
knots in my stomach thinking about it.
Suzanne
On Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 11:27 AM, Harrison Owen <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Doug -- I've been a little slow to respond to this one. Slowness
seems to
come with advancing years. To your question -- OS for folks with
Dementia?
Why not?
If nothing else that population of folks would probably include just
about
everybody over 65. Of course, Dementia comes in a variety of flavors
from
mild to horrific, but those of us of a certain age have more than a
little
existential experience with the critter. It is a little upsetting,
sometimes. The name of your best friend which evaporated. Those lost
eyeglasses that you suddenly find on your nose. Finding yourself
standing in
the middle of a familiar room with absolutely no idea about why you were
there, and what on earth you came to do. It happens. Been there...
So, OS for Dementia? Certainly, unless of course those of us so
afflicted
have suddenly been excluded from the sacred circle of Homo sapiens. And
actually, I don't really think there is much choice. Fact is (I
find), all
the world is self organizing (open space) and life goes better for
those who
have learned, in one way or another, to navigate that world. Life gets
clunky, closed and (more) painful when we make the mistake of
thinking we
are actually in charge. I think this is true for all of us, but for
those of
us with diminished(ing) mental capacity there are some special traps
along
the way.
For example, take the situation of the forgotten name. We can sit
there and
agonize over the lapse of memory. We can beat on ourselves for being so
forgetful. We can remember (oh yes, we do remember some things!) how the
proper name just sprang instantly to mind...
With a little effort we can feel totally miserable, and our misery is
compounded by the fact that the harder we try to remember, the more
distant
that elusive name seems to become. But there is a solution -- Just
let it
go! More often than not, once we let go, the all important name
miraculously
appears. And if it doesn't... A smile is often better than proper
nomenclature.
A little Open Space is good for just about everything and everybody.
And I
have to admit that I have forgotten all the things it isn't good for.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
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USA
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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of doug
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 11:10 AM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: [OSList] OS for Dementia?
Friends--
Have been thinking that a population OST could serve in a major good
way is
among people who have dementia. How?
Perhaps we have a mixed group of people with dementia living in a
congregate
housing setting and teenagers. We gather them in a circle and do the
normal
things. The teenagers could help the oldsters remember the
instructions and
post topics. The title could be "Issues and Opportunities with Growing
Younger Every Day."
How, if at all, would you change the normal format of OST for this
group?
What other mixture of people would you invite? What other titles?
Perhaps we could get family members to gather with them around the topic
"Issues and Opportunities to Still Be Family" or "Meet Me Here Today."
I wonder.... I invite you to wonder with me....
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--
Suzanne Daigle
Open Space Facilitator
NuFocus Strategic Group
FL 941-359-8877
Cell: 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
twitter @suzannedaigle
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