Ever Deeper

Joal-Fadiouth at sunset, February 13, 2011

EBH

On my recent birding trip, I thoroughly enjoyed many different habitats, some busy with birds and others full - of silence. The Sine Saloum delta south of Joal, on this west coast of Africa, met me at sunset as far as the eye - and the heart - could see, with such a silence . I found reflected in sky and sand and mangrove estuary a deeply soothing beauty and clarity. It had been scorching hot just moments before. And then, the hint of a cool breeze wafted in over the flats from the sea. Day in an instant folded into evening. The light quality was transformed from bright bright to golden. This photo which I took as I breathed in the cool reflects the this all in a rather stunning way. Places close to the equator are known for these rapid changes. Experiencing it out there on the dusty road to 'nowhere' was a treat!

There are places we can choose to go where we find silence, and time - to reflect on deeper matters of the heart and mind. Issues, challenges which we have wrestled with in the brightness of their complexity suddenly can be more clearly perceived in the mellower, golden light. We understand more fully as we reflect on contributing factors, potential options and ways to get through - or around if necessary - and move forward.

As I reflect on my golden Joal-Fadiouth en-light-ening through this week, I am looking at some of my current challenges. How do I grow my business in ways which are realistic, balanced and and engaging for my partners, my clients and me as well? What are my priorities, my needs for organizing, my paths forward - step by step?

It's an exciting pilgrimage!

A recent entrepreneur training article I read stated, "Entrepreneurs need to spend much less time at their computer imagining their new business and more time out engaging with real life customers..." (Jeff Cornwall, The Entrepreneurial Mind, Nov, 2010)

...to which I'll add "AND engaging in real life, with all its deepest opportunities"!

What is this all really about?

I've spent quite a lot of time this week on my computer. When I sit where I can pick up the rather weak internet signal, I have behind me a wall of windows which look out on cascading bouganvillea vines. Can you see the flowers reflected in the computer screen? It's kind of a optical illusion - a natural one. I have thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of these flowers as I've traveled throught this week's work!

And, more deeply, I've felt several times like this double image - the reflected flowers superimposed over the computer screens' contents - have made me more aware of the necessity to carefully reflect on "what's really going on here" to master the bigger picture as I've worked to sift through several communication situations with which I'll be doing some consulting in the coming weeks. Is it the screen contents or the reflected flowers that hold my attention...is it the surface information offered or observed, or are there deeper issues I need to ferret out in any given situation?

One of my projects involves trying to help develop an grass-roots, umbrella conservation effort here in Senegal, focusing on protecting the birds and the remaining highly endangered green spots. My proposed doctoral work will hopefully contribute to this effort at some level. I'll begun working on this with several long-time Senegalese friends, and several development agency folks. And as I work through the initial sorting out of what's gone on to date, what each person and group involved would like to see happen and how we can work strategically toward those goals...I will ask myself, "Am I focusing on the flowers, or on the details on the screen?" Both will have to happen - in a good balance.

Another part of my work involves contacting many former colleagues, and others here whom I have yet to meet, to offer my consulting services in the language and culture learning domains. I have lots of ideas and resources to offer, but first I have to 'just listen' to their situations, their expressed needs, their questions. And I will ask myself, "AmI going to focus in any given context on the flowers, or on the details on the screen?" Again, both are important in their proper time.

That's some of what I'm up to in the next week. How about you...are you focusing on the flowers or on the details on the screen? And where is that perhaps leading you?

Have a good one!

Harne's Marsh, 1-23-11

Just beginning to SEE...

and taking the time to reflect!

It's the first day of my "back home to Africa" TRIP. I decided to share my reflections along the way, so it's also the first day of my blogging career!

The ancient practice, or really it's a discipline, of reflecting or contemplating or meditating has become very much a part of my day by day journeying. There are many approaches which I have enjoyed discovering - a few I have delved more deeply into. The first step though is to simply SEE...and then choose to stop and reflect!

So much goes on around us which we totally miss without setting aside the time and energy to SEE and then making the heart connection to reflect on what we SEE. This reminds me of the first image above, which I took a week ago at a new preserve near my home in Florida. It was a beautiful blue sky, so very clear day. There were many kinds of birds. As birders do, I started with the big picture, the general view. With my 'bins' in hand, I then focused in and began to really SEE what was there in the brush by the waterside! The little fellow on the left come into sharp view...and the reflection of his stepping out gave dynamic and delight as I watched!
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As I fly east today toward the place where I lived for many years, I am set to do some serious SEEing and I am determined to also enter into reflecting on what comes my way.

Join me!

Choose something in your day to SEE and take some time to reflect. Stepping out like this definitely offers each of us an adventure to be enjoyed!

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"We need to capture the awareness of our own life as an adventure...

we need to set ourselves time and space for this quest...

(we need to) enter more deeply into life and the world around us."
A Desert in the Ocean, pg 3