Emily Cunningham

My memory is that my little speech wasn't that well received. Afterwards I had an argument with a co-facilitator who thought I was putting a dampener on what should have been a happy day. You aren't motivating people, she said, and she may have been right.

I had a lot to learn (still do in fact) about how to share what I know/see in ways that are compassionate, effective, and helpful.

In the years since, it has been amazing to me how many of those visions have been realized, with fidelity to initial vision that still surprises me. Protected land, dams removed, eco-villages inhabited.

Yesterday. I got an email, from one of the leaders of one of the projects. Such a hard project, successful beyond expeectations. Personal finances totally at risk in it, and endless endless hours of toil.

Guess what: We are here (pointing to one of the darkest reddest spots on the map). Explains a lot about the struggles of the last couple of years.

I don't know what my friend will do. If I had to guess she will persevere, and in so doing break some ground about resilience for the rest of her region who will experience in decades what she's going through now.

Anyway, it's all brought back that afternoon long ago...but what I really want to do is to try to bring what I've learned forward apply to my work, urge you to consider applying it to yours.