Have you heard this quote before? Ever wonder if it applies to you? Or better yet, what it might look or feel like if you explored and experimented with the idea?

Most days my colleagues and I invite people of all ages to step out of their comfort zones to explore infinite possibilities. Some find it scary. Others a stretch. More often than not most people find it refreshing, awakening, inspiring, even magical. When people choose to step out of their comfort zones they often feel alive. It is the act of intentionally choosing that is significant. Some might call this dreaming. Do you dare to dream?

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” — Mister Rogers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP-T31Dw0jw

It’s in honor to work with so many caring people doing compassionate work. May we find peace in the confusion and light in the darkness.

Let your light shine,

Nate

(it’s not too late, right!)

2013 is here with all its newness, wonder, and possibilities. What will you make of it? Do you know where you’re going?  Have you set goals or intentions?

Below is a simple goal setting device from The Hundredth Monkey to help you navigate your year. Inspired by the concept of a GPS, it empowers you to set a goal, track your progress, and check-in if you get lost or need to start anew. Even more, it encourages you to determine a plan for success and invite the support you may desire or need. Simply, the GPS (Goal, Plan, Support) is a mnemonic device that helps you move towards your goal.

Start moving towards your goal in 3 simple steps:

1. Goal – Record your goal. Write, draw, collage, or sing your goal or intention. Be specific.
2. Plan – Develop a plan.
   1. What is the timeframe for your goal to be accomplished?
   2. What action steps will you take to accomplish your goal?
   3. How will you measure and track your progress towards your goal?
   4. How often will you assess your progress? 
3. Support – Invite the support you desire or need.
   1. What resources are available to you?
   2. Who can support you in achieving your goal and how?
   3. What support can you offer yourself?

Okay, that’s it. Now it’s up to you. Go do and be something great!

I didn’t know Mike well, although it was clear that we had a connection beyond our host committee roles for the Northeast Regional Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Conference. We quickly caught up which may have been the case for anyone who was getting to know Mike. In our brief time of knowing each other we discussed our love for food, engaged in many philosophical conversations about experiential education and life, and revelled over music. Ah music…the beautifully blended sounds surging though people and instruments, the array of meaningful humorous and nonsensical lyrics, and the energetic and eclectic vibe one could experience. We discovered our shared love for music! How it shaped us, helped express feelings and ideas, and influenced how we lived. Music fuels our creative and playful energy.

The evening before he passed, Mike sent a message to me on Facebook with a response to a question that we were previously discussing, “What are some great songs to play tag to?” Below is Mike’s response (Jan 13, 2011; 9:34pm):

Hi Nate,
Glad we have connected here too. As a way of saying hi, I give you a partial list of good tunes to play tag by.

Let It Roll – Little Feat
Welcome to the Jungle – Guns ‘n Roses
Zydeco Boogaloo – Buckwheat Zydeco
New Country – Jean Luc Ponty
Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
The Bruins TV Theme song from the 70’s
and..my favorite so far…
Foggy Mountain Breakdown – The Dillards

What might be your additions?

With love and respect, I’m sure Mike would love to see your additions to this ‘partial’ list. Let’s journey towards a more comprehensive list of ‘good tunes to play tag by’ made possible only through our connectedness. I invite you to respond to Mike’s prompt, “What might be your additions?”

Please post your additions as a reply below or simply share them with others when you’re playing tag.

(Peace Brother)

I often struggle to be present when opening presents. Excited, anticipating, curious, eager, yet still anxious. Anxious to receive a gift because of my pickiness and particularities. Anxious out of concern that I might hurt someone’s feelings if I react honestly to a gift. Anxious to give a gift because I care so deeply to give the perfect gift each year yet rarely make it happen. Anxious because the special moments of gift giving, each gift, seems to pass way too fast.  

I abruptly leave each moment to be present for the next moment, the next gift. Then again for the next one and the one after that. Each gift triggers anxiety in me. I hold an expectation for a perfect moment. I enter a cycle of hurried presence for special moments repeating rapidly, exhausted from the emotions and seem to lose sight of the bigger picture – the fuller experience all around and within me. The thoughtfulness of a gift, the pressure, the honest reactions, the disappointment, the joy, the moment of surprise. The space, the people, the spirit. The sights, smells, and sounds. The tingles. The awareness felt when being present, accepting what is. Accepting rather than expecting.

If I can be present while giving and receiving presents I will offer a true gift to the experience, the spirit, my family, and myself.

Presents Presence, that’s what I hope I can give this year.

Considerations:

1. What gifts are you giving this year?
2. What do you hope to receive?
3. Whose ability to be present in the moment do you admire most? What is it that you admire?
4. What do you do to be present when:
   1. facilitating a group of people?
   2. teaching a class?
   3. counseling a client?
   4. hanging with your friends?
   5. being with your family?

Ramblings:

Present with the present present

Presenting presence

Presence presented

Pre-sent presence

Present

Weeding makes room for other things to grow.

Questions:

1. What are you weeding these days?
2. What do you believe to be the most effective weeding techniques?
3. What are some of the most difficult weeds you have encountered? How have you handled them?
4. What has grown after weeding?

Music:                                                                                                                            Express Yourself – Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band            Peace, Love, and Understanding – Big Sam’s Funky Nation

“It’s a book about magic. I’m going to learn how to do magic tricks,” said Kail.                   “Really, that’s great. Do you know any magic tricks now?” I responded.                                  “No, that’s why I’m reading the book, Nate.”                                                                    “Right, good point.”                                                                                                               The bus arrived and Kail went off to school.

Later that  night, our families got together for a community dinner which we do from time to time: Kail, Brooke and Drew (Kail’s parents), her 2 siblings, Maia (4) and James (2) and Michelle and I.  We all chipped in by preparing parts of the meal then gathered to enjoy each others company and the food we prepared. As always, there was anticipation for a delicious dinner, however there was also anticipation for something else.

When I sat down at the dinner table I learned that Kail had hidden a fortune for each of us in our napkins. We were all excited and unwrapped our napkins, then listened as we each read our fortunes out loud:

“You will do something you love soon.”                                                                             “You are good at helping others.”                                                                                   “Magic is everywhere. You will find magic soon.”                                                              “You are wonderful.”                                                                                                          “You are very wise.”                                                                                                               “If you don’t know what your special talent is you will soon. If you know what your special gift is you will learn more about it soon.”

Wow, those were special, thoughtful, and profound. Kail had prepared these for us and distributed them randomly. They were relevant, significant, and unexpected gifts for which we were all grateful.

The fortune I happened to receive read, “Magic is everywhere. You will find magic soon.” It sure is! I believe this fully and it was a nice affirmation. It also affirmed though that Kail, while desiring to learn more about magic, is already a magician without perhaps even knowing it. Magicians inspire anticipation, generate excitement, include everyone, and instigate moments that are relevant, significant, and most importantly, unexpected. Our experience was fun, engaging, and worthy of reflection. A magician then could also be used to describe an especially effective facilitator of adventure/experiential education.

In Silver Bullets the 25^th Anniversary edition (Rhonke 2009), Karl Rhonke exclaims that there are enough technicians in the (adventure/experiential education) field and that we need more magicians. I couldn’t agree more. So perhaps we could all use what Kail shared with our community at Many Paths to create a little magic in our communities, our teaching, our programs, and in our lives. Go be magikail!

• Inspire anticipation
• Generate excitement
• Include everyone
• Instigate moments that are relevant, significant, and most importantly, unexpected
• Create experiences that are engaging, fun, and worthy of reflection
• Do something magical that may even surprise you!

Questions:

1. What is a magical moment you recently experience? What made it magical?
2. In your life (or as a facilitator) would you consider yourself more of a technician or magician?
3. What do you do in your life (or profession) to create magical moments? How open are you to magical moments offered by others?
4. What do you see as the value of magical moments?