MAY
“Any time women come together with a collective intention, it's a powerful thing. Whether it's sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.”
- Phylicia Rashad
My, oh my. What a journey! I always forget how much energy and time goes into organizing and marketing an event. It is a roller coaster ride, the highs and lows of creating a team and bringing people together. The stress must have been a bit too much for me this year. I got a visit from shingles. Shingles is more than a pause button; it is a snooze button. Mind you, I’ve never pushed a snooze button in my life, well perhaps by mistake. So for me, snoozing has been quite frustrating especially since it was in the middle of marketing. You have no idea how this dreadful illness has affected me, a go-getter. I had a dozen plans not only for Platform but my other work, 3-4 ongoing projects and jobs. But I could not carry it out and follow through.
Snoozing has been difficult, downright frustrating. At moments, I had been seriously depressed; I resisted the limitations set by the physical pain. And the more I resisted, the more my body responded with pain. So I had to consciously let go and allow myself to sit and stare and then try to meditate. It was not easy when I had mental list of things I had and wanted to do. However, third week into my illness (this week), I think I have finally accepted my snooze. In accepting the limitations of what I am able to do, of what I am able to control, I have realized that I can allow others to step up for me. You see, I have a wonderful team of volunteers and facilitators. They are truly amazing. Sometimes, I find myself marveling over their abilities, strengths, and beauty (they are all so very beautiful). They embody the mission of Platform; they are the incarnation of our vision statement.
I am not happy that I am ill But I am grateful for the time I got to appreciate the gifts of our team this year. Last year, I don’t think I realized how much I like the team until January of this year when I thought about creating another team of facilitators. Yes, I have developed as a person. Because I snoozed and actually looked at every one of my team members, I saw the resources they brought to our Platform space. I can appreciate them now as they finalize the workshops. And I believe I will come to enjoy their presence in the workshops. What a great gift to be able to sit and be grateful.
If you can, please join us. The synergy from the facilitators, participants, and volunteers will be magical. You will walk away with a better understanding of yourself, your purpose, and your community. You will feel a renewed self of mission in life, of meaning not only for yourself but of the community you decide to invest your energy. What more can we ask for in life but to find our purpose.
Sam
Founder. Executive Director
May 01, 2019