Belonging – our place

Posted on 18. Nov, 2010 by Susan Wright in Life Coaching

I’m a non-fiction reader and suppose that comes to no surprise given the focus of my interest and work. Recently, my husband pulled a familiar line to our son, “Why don’t you read something?” – gosh I heard that before, when I was young (his age) I wasn’t really an avid reader. My world existed in the observation and curiosity of people, places, and the imaginary. That all started to change, when several years ago, I began to discover books that resonated and somehow spoke to me. I may have borrowed or bought books out of initial interest and then they sit until one beckons me to pick it up and open the cover.   There’s a message in that book that I’m ready to hear or gain some further insight from. As I’ve said once before, books pick you.

In my last blog post, I wrote about finding our place and experience in local experiences despite our vastly and worldly connection. No more than a day later, I passed by a book I purchased some months ago and there is was: “This book is written to support those who care for the well-being of their community.” (Community: the structure of belonging, Peter Block, 2008) And as I read further it aligned with my previous thoughts and post, that even though we talk about how small our world has become, that doesn’t necessarily create a sense of belonging, nor a likelihood of stronger and more effective communities.  I also believe there is a great deal of accountability or responsibility that is somehow forsaken in this fast life we live, and hence why personal accountability and transformation is essential and more so, of leadership and community.

As I support people to make some structural and strategic changes in their own way, I’m always left with a nagging thought – that this isn’t enough. It goes back to a systems or holistic way of seeing the world, which is why maybe, I’m an avid reader of those “non-fiction” authors and books (yeah, my husband still wonders what’s leisurely about that – kind of funny considering I was a recreation therapist at one point and a proponent of “leisure”). So is it enough for each of us to develop, transform, and be accountable? It’s a start, but I offer this as a prompt, what will it take for us to transform community, our global consciousness and actions?

With all that’s happened in the news recently, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, the verdict of a heart-breaking tragedy of two innocent lives taken , the shooting of a young boy residing in a Toronto community housing complex, and the bewildering democracy of our government, I can’t help but think that there is something to be learned about belonging and “the structure of belonging” and something lacking in our fragmented lives, organizations, and communities. On the upside though, our connectivity is strong and access to information is unlimited. It’s a question of what to do with it all and at what point can we choose to be accountable and for what?

I certainly feel a bit overwhelmed as a bystander of the news and yet, my heart doesn’t deny the feeling and effect it all has. For those of you who read this, I would love to learn how you experience “belonging” and place. What informs your choice to act or engage and what else might we do collectively to transform our local communities? We’re all related in some way, and don’t think for a minute you can’t have an positive impact in some way or form – often one minute, one moment, one action, can ripple.

So like the books that choose me, if this post chooses you, lend your thoughts and comment. It’s through your connection that I believe some action might arise, as after all, life is not fiction and living is an experience we share.

Blessing to those who persevere and have faith, despite the loss.

Susan

Tags: authentic conversations, choice, conscious change, consciousness, life & business, social change, taking action