Weekly Wisdom #26

The theme of this week’s wisdom is around loving life and the world amid all the darkness and chaos. Our nervous systems need regulation, so we do not remain in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode. Our planet needs us to fall in love with it so we will offer protection instead of continuous extraction. The Supreme Court's EPA ruling is a sad step into greater darkness, which is why this theme is so important.

Play

As I do many Mondays, I attended Essential Conversations by the Center for Purposeful Leadership. The topic was on play and its importance in our lives. There is so much “to do” that we often forget that play is important to our well-being. Play can be one of the ways to bring our nervous systems into a more settled and safe state.

Harry Waters Jr. and Ayn Fox facilitated a discussion on play and asked us – what would be a perfect play date? Kids do that all the time. Why not adults?

Just thinking about playing began to settle my nervous system. Interestingly, my discussion triad described some common play activities. We talked about movement, like yoga, walking, and dancing. I even suggested my day would include a giant canvas where I might roll in paint and then onto the canvas.

We all talked about light foods like summer fruits and vivid colors in our clothing or decorations. Being outdoors was an important part of our play dates too.

My best play date would include body painting, outdoor games, a picnic by the lake with friends and family, and a nice evening with my partner.

In this discussion I recalled the 4th of July parties we used to hold where I set up a series of obstacles and games which I called The Great Outdoor Farm Fun Games, after ESPN's Great Outdoor Games where I used to help set up archery (I still have the scoresheet from my games and am happy to share - just ask). Our summer games included archery, pole golf, ball tosses of various kinds, horseshoes, and bail rolling as well as dice, cards and Gnip Gnop (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnip_Gnop). Sometimes I would include farm trivia.

Our PLAY discussion triad went even farther into play in that we should all have a short list of play items (perhaps 3-7) that we prioritize into each day.

What would your best play date look like?

What play activities would you make a part of each day for the health of your nervous system and wellbeing?

If you believe play is important, what does this mean for your work and in your leadership?

Connection

This week I also had the opportunity to attend the Global Regeneration CoLab’s running meeting called Insights Circle. Anyone can join and we never know what topic will come up. I enjoy this group because it does not take us long to find a theme after we do check-ins. I was struck by these statements from our conversation:

“All actions create conditions that support life.”

“Living things love to live. Except humans – we are the only ones that do not actively support life”

We talked about how disconnected we have become from each other and from our planet.

We talked about the limitations of our language. How do we look beyond language, through art, music, poetry, and even nature to describe what we feel and sense?

We talked about the need to move beyond straight science into story and greater context.

We did not produce any answers, but we asked and reflected upon some great questions.

We did agree that we are a part of nature and a part of all that is going on.

Having this group dive into deep and meaningful conversation in a safe container is a way I find energy and connection. I know I am not alone in my thoughts and struggles. I am thankful to GRC for hosting these conversations.

In what ways do you support life (rather than extract it)?

How can you look beyond language for solutions and exchange of ideas?

What is the role of art and story in your work?

Biophilia

As I was preparing for this week’s wisdom, the term biophilia came to mind. It was first used by Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness and then by E.O. Wilson in Biophilia.

I do believe we have an innate need to connect with nature. And, more than connect, realize that we are a part of nature. Nature does not reside outside of us but in and all around us. Our disconnection with that is why it has become so easy to poison and extract without hesitation of understanding of larger impact.

I say there are no good or bad relationships with nature. We all need to grow in our relationships because most of us use more than we need.

Biophilia is “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”

How do you love life and all that is alive?

This week my love of life is being celebrated with my partner and some great friends that will involve campfires, fresh fish, and lots of laughter. I will come back next week ready to dive back into my work of connecting people to themselves, to others, and to Earth.

Go play, get outdoors, and connect with people of all kinds!