Building Off AI

Okay, I truly, intensely dislike acronyms. So, the title is the ONLY place where you'll find me using the one for Appreciative Inquiry's. (Most people reading it think "artificial intelligence.") Like way too many acronyms, it hides its meaning. (Unlike the acronym for Operation Iraqui Liberty - OIL.)

A lot of folks in my home town hope the current Appreciative Inquiry process happening throughout our community will reveal heartfelt dreams, yielding insightful visions that can translate into meaningful future plans that connect & nurture. Personally, the process has already proved a boon for me - it got me thinking about all the stories in my home town, so many of which have been lost forever, so many of which are waiting for someone to capture them for the current as well as future generations to enjoy. Much like Viola Ridgeway did, in her day.

Story circles, spinning off of Appreciative Inquiry.

First up - locate what Mrs. Ridgeway already accomplished. Move on from there.

FUN!

Storytelling as Community Connection

Imagine what might happen if we gathered together and shared our stories? Is that part of what Appreciative Inquiry is all about? How does Appreciative Inquiry use collected stories as a catalyst to reinforce community?

Imagine a community story book! What an incredible bond that could be, and what fun it would be to make happen. Story telling as connective tissue.

How is Appreciative Inquiry different from what's being disucssed, if at all? Isn't it all about identifying core values & seeing how they fit into current/future actions? Identifying core values & guiding principles sounds like what the Bryn Athyn community is focused on right now.

Digital storytelling - entwine the schools & the Appreciate Inquiry process. Using the stories as discussion points for high school students.

Story circles seems a natural build off/deepening of the Appreciative Inquiry process.

Honoring, celebrating the past without become shackled by it - so important!

Every story is the story that should be told. Not just the good stories or the bad stories, but the authentic stories.

My hometown is remarkably connected IF you are within one of many established circles. If not, it can feel exclusive, excluding.

Imagine an evening at MPAC combining an evening of digitalized stories and people -live- sharing stories from the stage.

I choose to live in trust

And I absolutely, positively trust the Universe egged me into transforming my baking style from whipping up sugar-laden, fat-infused baddies to nutritious, healthy goodies!!

And I AM GRATEFUL!!

Taken by surprise!

What a delightful surprise to see a photo of Whitney, Reynolds & Scott in front of the Woodland Road Christmas tree - a photo that I snapped well over 30 years ago - posted as her Facebook profile shot!

The experience of coming unawares across a family photo of a super special moment in time speaks volumes about what I experience as the power of Facebook to reconnect us with such precious moments, to remind us of long-ago stories that connect our hearts, no matter what the distances, wrapping us in sweet remembrance.

LONG TIME...

Alas, my cpu crashed due to a virus. Result - no blogging since early November!! Two months of utter silence, not so much as a sniff from Sneezing Chickens!!

Am back - and durn pleased to be.

We had a dandy time at the Bryn Athyn Craft Fair. A wonderful, tasty Thanksgiving. An Advent season filled with every manner of blessings. Our best Christmas EVER!! A very happy new year. And am inching up on my much-anticipated 3rd act!!

Life stretches out in front of me like a glorious river, flowing from beloved familiar places to new horizons.

I reached out in October for support & received so much good will & generosity in return. #1 was an unexpected tool from Molly Donato - something to write out every day for 30 days, to say out loud three times each day:

The entire Universe loves me, serves me, nurtures me, and wants me to win.

There is more than enough for everyone.

I choose in this moment to release all sense of burden, stress, and fear.

I choose to live in trust.

I have wonderful gifts to give, and I give them generously.

I have wonderful gifts to receive, and I receive them joyously.

Money comes to me from all directions, and I am rich.

Money is energy, and is here to serve me.

I can be trusted to use money spiritually.

I tithe where I am fed spiritually.

I have wonderful projects for good in the world, and all the money & resources I desire shows up to support my work.

Money comes to me easily and effortlessly; I am a good receiver.

I have no greed in me; I love to share.

I have no fear in me; God provides lavishly for me, and all humanity.

Large, rich, opulent, lavish financial surprises now come to me, and I AM GRATEFUL.

And I wrote it out for 30 days, without once forgetting. I still write it out. I expect to write it out up to & including my birthday. It speaks my heart. What a wonderful tool for prosperity - and it didn't cost Molly a single dime!!

Benjamin Reynolds

It's interesting that Mom composed a Mindwalker1910 posting about her maternal grandfather, William Wolf Davis, but shared very little about her father.

I can understand not saying much about her mother, Rena Davis Reynolds - from what I heard from Mom & from my cousin Peggy, "Gran" was a real piece of work (and that's no compliment).

But Mom adored her father.

Then again, maybe that's why. It seems that the closer Mom was to someone, something, the harder time she had writing about it. With as wonderful a time as she had, with as much as it touched her heart, with how joyful it made her to celebrate, Mom could never share her experience of Chad & Whitney's wedding. Too close.

I wish I knew more about my grandfather than that he was a musician who played the piano & violin, among other instruments, and the autoharp when his heart condition didn't allow him to raise his arms for the violin. More than the very real fact that Mom lost him at the way too young age of 19. That she felt an illogical but very real guilt over not having been able to do more for him, that she couldn't keep him from dying from his heart condition.

There's very little I know about my maternal grandfather, Benjamin Reynolds. But I know his daughter loved him dearly & missed him through all her days.

avoiding elsa

yes, i've been intentionally avoiding elsa asplundh acton. not from any dire reasoning, but because it made sense to me. all the rest of the people i consider family have distanced themselves, i just gave her a wide berth assuming she felt the same whatever. realizing i have NO idea what or how she feels. unfair to both of us to steer clear.