Like folding air
Exactly a week ago I made my first balloon animal. A dog. A good one. For a first attempt anyways. It felt strange to be in a space so far away from my daily realities of holding space for stories of trauma, fear and running for safety. It was different. And yet so familiar. This space and those people - I have realized I have spent 23 years in youth work, lifelong learning and non formal education. Maybe scary. Maybe inspiring. Maybe a little bit like folding air.
And it also made me think - how many times you can have first times. How many experiences can be unique, unexpected, gently unfolding in front of you - every moment or somewhat less than that. Do those experiences that you already have answers to count? We grow experiences and wisdom and it seems a very desired effect of growing up. But does that also mean fear of loosing the sparkle of joy of discoveries? Does it mean you are only upgrading similar experiences? Does it mean there is a hard stop, a seiling, a moment when you supposed to sit down and just chill? Do I want that? Am I ready?
I had to talk to someone about this and so I did. Several people to be honest. I know talking. I can do that. I can also do balloon animals it turns out. And it all really got me thinking about regenerative learning ecology. It got me thinking about the dynamic constelations of learning based on change that facilitate the development of regenerative capacity - the ability to lead collective action towards continuously more regenerative future states. The power we hold doesnt necessarily translate to the change we make. It’s something to think about.
Having spend years creating structures that inspire, move and stimulate change, I also have to look at myself and ask that difficult yet super inspiring question - what next? What now? And it’s really scary. How do you embrace the thing you can’t yet visualize. Just like folding air. And I must admit I am very intrigued even if it’s all quite cryptic and with barely visible shapes and spaces.
It’s scary to speak about something so challenging and yet so vague but I do invite you to explore with me…