Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics…We Are More

As a Canadian watching the opening ceremonies to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, there was much to be proud of.  The term mosaic indeed seems apt in capturing Canada’s amazing breadth and depth of beauty and spirit within it geography, terrain, peoples and culture.   At the same time, there is a delicate and humble authenticity in defining what it is to be Canadian particularly in terms of our patriotism.   For me, Shane Koyczan’s poem, We Are More, recited near the end of the event seemed a perfect encapsulation of the unassuming pride I feel to be Canadian citizen of this great country that I am blessed to call home.  With that, I leave you with the transcript of the poem to read at your leisure, and reflect upon what it means to you…

 

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada

you might list some statistics

you might mention our tallest building

or biggest lake

you might shake a tree in the fall

and call a red leaf Canada

you might rattle off some celebrities

might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie

might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few

Barenaked Ladies

or that we made these crazy things

like zippers

electric cars

and washing machines

when defining Canada

it seems the world’s anthem has been

” been there done that”

and maybe that’s where we used to be at

it’s true

we’ve done and we’ve been

we’ve seen

all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine

and turned into theme parks

but when defining Canada

don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories

about the one that got away

we do more than sit around and say “eh?”

and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you’re welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow

we do more than grow wheat and brew beer

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like “someday”

someday we’ll be great

someday we’ll be this

or that

someday we’ll be at a point

when someday was yesterday

and all of our aspirations will pay the way

for those who on that day

look towards tomorrow

and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set

and we will get interest on our inspiration

because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks

more than backpacks and hiking trails

we are hammers and nails building bridges

towards those who are willing to walk across

we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss

we are not the see-through gloss or glamour

of those who clamour for the failings of others

we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers

uncles and nephews aunts and nieces

we are cousins

we are found missing puzzle pieces

we are families with room at the table for newcomers

we are more than summers and winters

more than on and off seasons

we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay

because we are more than what we say or do

we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are

we are students

students who study the studiousness of studying

so we know what as well as why

we don’t have all the answers

but we try

and the effort is what makes us more

we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for

so keep exploring

go far and wide

or go inside but go deep

go deep

as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss

and suddenly there was this location scout

trying to figure some way out

to get inside you

because you’ve been through hell and high water

and you went deep

keep exploring

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a land that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

” keep exploring… we are more”

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”

so don’t say “been there done that”

unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk

while chalk artists draw still lifes

on the concrete of a kid in the street

beatboxing to Neil Young for fun

don’t say you’ve been there done that

unless you’ve been here doing it

let this country be your first-aid kit

for all the times you get sick of the same old same old

let us be the story told to your friends

and when that story ends

leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back

next time pack for all the things

you didn’t pack for the first time

but don’t let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what’s more

is that we didn’t just say it

we made it be.

tiltability

Essentially everything in our universe strives to reach a state of   equilibrium or Homeostasis.   This principle applies to single individual entities to massive complex systems either metabolically, physicaly, socially or psychologically.    Paradoxically, while the drive or equilibrium is ongoing, there are always some other forces tilting the system off balance into a state of disequilibrium or change.  The result is a dynamic interconnetion between these two opposing yet complimentary states of equilibrium and change.  They are two sides of a same coin where one cannot exist without the other where the purpose of change itself is to reach a new state of balance and harmony. 

When it comes to poeple, by and large the preference is for the known or equilibrium over that of change.  In fact, it is fairly safe to state that people generally have difficultly with change.    It is part of why there is so much focus and time dedicated to the study for effectively managing change.   It is relatively simple to change situations when people are not involved, but the more people are impacted by a change, the more difficult change becomes.    Ironically, while people and beliefs, expectations, assumptions, concerns and hopes can present a significant obstacle to change, they are also the solution.   for withiout them, realizing successful sustainable change would be impossible. 

As a business and organizational development consultant and coach, I am acutely aware of the challenging phenomenon change presents for people.   It is for this reason why my my passion and primary area of practice is focused on facilitating positive change within and through people and people-driven systems.   Driving change, whether it’s personal, professional or organizational, requires some form of catalyst, either internally or externally imposed, to overcome the inertia inherent in people’s homeostatic circumstances.  The catalyst may be some political, environmental, sociological, technological, market or other force that inevitably tilts people and organizations out of their comfort zone and into wobbly uncertainty.  By empowering people with the necessary functional and soft skills of leadership, emotional and social intelligence, they are better equipped to positively manage change.   The best of who they are is expressed and shared, enabling a collaborative search for and implementation of sustainable options for transitioning more easily to a new changed state of equilibrium.     

Hello World

 

“Always do the thing you fear the most.  Courage is an acquired taste, like cavier.”
- Erica Jong           

 Well I am finally taking the plunge and starting my own blog.  I have been resistant to doing so even though I have known about and read many others for years.  So I ask myself what is my resistance to doing this about?  One thing I have learned about myself over the years is that answers to such questions are usually the result of fear.  So the real question is what are the fears that have been holding me back from writing a blog?

A few answers come to me as I ponder this question.  Fear of nothing worthy to say.  Fear of exposing my thoughts to the world.  Fear that no one will read it.  Fear that if others do read it, they will disagree or worse reject me.  Fear of being or perceived by others as inadequate in some way.   All those old self-sabatoging thoughts come rushing back …”Who do I think I am to think I am worthy enough to… whatever?”

Then I remember how I gathered the courage for overcoming other events I feared in my life.  Reflecting on these occurances, I recall how doing so I was able to realize significant personal and professional growth.  This is not to say it was all smooth as soon as faced fear and took action.  There were challenges making it very difficult at times.   I made mistakes and I have not always been accepted or liked by others.   And this was okay too because through adversity I learned even more, gained confidence and was able to help others more.  Funny how that works. 

So with this in mind, I embark on this new experience of starting a blog to share my thoughts and experiences with whomever wishes to partake.  And who knows, maybe along the way what is written resonates, imparts some wisdom or give permission to others do the same.  Let the adventure begin.

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? …playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you …We are all meant to shine…And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”  - Marianne Williamson