Curiously Exploring

Have you ever wondered how your childhood has influenced your adulthood?  I grew up in the era of TV programs like "Gilligan's Island," "Brady Bunch," and "Star Trek" (the original series).  Then came the "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Mary Tyler More Show," "The Love Boat," and "All in the Family."  See any changes in how life presented itself to a young TV viewer?

Whether you grew up in this same period or before or after, certain images, quotes, and theme songs probably draw you back to your earlier self.

Let's get lost in a few of these memories!

Do you remember when you were curious about life?
(Photo credit: Curious About Curiosity?
Professor Studies How Children Learn, UVAToday)

For instance:

• What did "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" mean?  (Everything centers around Marcia!)
• What was the Skipper's affectionate name for Gilligan?  ("Little Buddy")
• Do you recall the name of Mary Tyler More's theme song?  ("Love is All Around")

Just think of how these messages affected many of us: we didn't need to be the center of attention, and love and friendship were important even when there are disagreements.

How do you envision your universe?
(Photo credit: Carina Nebula, NASA's Webb Space Telescope)

 
Star Trek taught us to explore, seek out, and boldly go where no one had gone before.  And, it introduced us to Vulcan's IDIC philosophy ("Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations") and "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" -- or as Captain Kirk would reply, "Or the one."

 

These messages merged with our innate sense of curiosity:  we wanted to explore, accept, and put others first.

Are you willing to explore the depths of yourself and others?
(Photo credit: Ocean Exploration - Technology, National Geographic)

Why am I reliving childhood memories and messages?  I was working with members of a leadership team this past week.  As I listened to their struggles and challenges, I noticed that I was curious about how organizational structure and norms had overridden messages common to many of our childhoods:  sharing, caring, and listening.

 

 For this week, maybe we could return to the images, quotes, and theme songs that spoke to us as children... of friendship, love, and attention... and explore curiously where no one has gone before?

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

(click on link for website)

Webs We Weave

Walking along Ketchikan's historic Creek Street, I was paying attention to the many bright colors of the houses and shops around the creek as well as the salmon swimming upstream in their final journey of life.  I was reflecting on this sunny and warm day -- how nice it was to be outside following the torrential downpour the day before in Sitka; how different life is from day to day and moment to moment!

In many ways it's what catches our attention that seems so important:  the sun and warmth; the rain and cold wind; the joy and consolation of family and friends; the frustration and uncertainty when we don't know what to do.

What catches your attention?
(Photo: Creek Street, Ketchikan, Alaska,
Larry Gardepie)

At several points along this reflective walk, I would turn a corner and almost walk into a spider web situated in our path -- gigantic and beautiful constructions with the spiders still busy in their weaving.  My thoughts shifted back home to the health of our hedge, our neighbor's backyard construction project with its noise and disruptions, and work and goals unfinished.  I am so busy weaving meaning and stories that I don't always see the larger scene before me:  Life is Good!

When do you feel trapped or entrapped?
(Photo:  spider web, Creek Street, Larry Gardepie)

I wonder how often I:

• Feel trapped by a situation?
• Assume ill intentions of the other person?
• Entrap myself and others in the webs of exclusion, intolerance, and disinformation?

It seems that sometimes I am so ready to ensnare the other person that I cannot escape my own webs that I weave!

Which web catches you?
(Photo: one of the many webs in the trees along
Creek Street, Larry Gardepie)

I walked around the Creek Street spider webs, letting the industrious spiders continue their day's work with the knowledge that I was free to stay and watch or move on and let go.  At the end of this famous boardwalk street, I noticed the too-early autumn foliage of a tree.  As I approached, I took out my camera to capture the sunshine, tree and leaves as a memory of this beautiful day.  Refocusing the camera, I discovered the tree was full of webs!

 

We have so many ways to weave our intentions or journey around what entangles us.  The choice is ours:  what meanings we attach... if we want to refocus... and how we want to see our world and one another.
 

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

(click on link for website)