Words that caught me: P is for "Pay Attention"
I
start writing this without a title in mind,
Because
I don’t know yet, what to name it;
Or
where it will lead.
I
know what I want to write about,
But am
not sure where to start
Or
how to say it.
Let’s
see (pause).
Two
weeks ago, you and I talked some,
About
having Visionary Horizons.
Last
week, we shared a cup of tea,
And
discussed why we shouldn’t worry much
If
our visions seem a little too wild,
Because,
truth be told, those are their stripes,
And
that’s how we get to know and identify them.
They aren’t
supposed to be anything else but that -
Tigers and Cheetahs!
Today, I warmly invite you to my little cottage in woods,
For an evening bonfire
Over some
glass of wine,
And a short, private conversation.
Please
sit. Let’s watch the flames, as I gather my thoughts.
This
isn’t easy to talk about, because I risk sounding wise,
And I
know I’m not.
I’m also learning..and this is what I know, so far....
'Imagine,
for a moment, you have a baby,
And she is your sole responsibility.
You
are her sole protector and nurturer.
Look
at her. She is so small, and so perfect.
You
love her with your whole heart, just the way she is.
But
you know this won’t be static: she will change and grow,
And
develop and evolve,
And you’ll have to be there to support her through it all.
Your
love for her is infinite, and elastic at the same time,
And you'll have to learn to hold what she becomes,
And what she un-becomes.'
This
baby is your vision.
You
well know that it is your duty and responsibility to protect her,
When
she is little and vulnerable,
Because they are many who fear her
And what
she might become.
There
is the 'vision arsonist'
Who insists she must be like every other child.
That
she must wear the same uniform,
And speak the same language,
And
play by the same rules.
What
will this do to her soul if she was born free and wild?
Then
there are the 'vision-downsizers'.
They can’t wait to cut her down to size,
To force-fit her into their world,
And weaken her unruly and free spirit.
She doesn’t
stand a chance…unless we do something.
The
wise ones, those who have been here before us, say this:
'When
the vision is young and vulnerable,
You
should only share it with those who will give it
The nutrients of belief,
Encouragement,
And additive
feedback.'
There
are two main ways you can do this:
You
can create and launch your own community of believers,
Or you
can find and embed yourself in one.
How
do you create a community?
'By
sharing interesting and valuable things.'
Then
those who are like-minded as you, and find you interesting,
Will slowly
coalesce around you, for more,
And
together, you can fashion out a new path, and new standards.
Look
around, it’s all in the rage online these days –
Like-minded
people connecting beyond borders, languages and cultures.
And
how do you find the correct community?
Well…you
do the work. They are out there, somewhere.
We
are never the first, even though we like to think of ourselves as being that.
We
are always standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.
So
get to work. Find them. They are there.
Then 'as your vision takes root, and its bark thickens, share it more widely',
But
with care. Always remain attentive and vigilant,
Because
there are those who will attempt to hack at it,
And those
who will wrap themselves around it
In
love and hunger, for the future it offers.
Know well thy disciples and learn to identify them in their many hues.
To the naysayers, you’ll
have to master the courage of constantly saying ‘No’
Especially to
those who think they know the parameters of a happy life.
Learn
to listen and honour that small voice inside of you,
That
tells you to go a different way.
Look
at those flames now.
You have seen what we’ve been doing all evening
To keep
them laughing.
You have to do the same to keep your vision alive.
'Paying
attention is your endless and proper work!'
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