“There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
—Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”
You know, I’m really getting to like these Friday Sandbox sessions.
They’re like cheery check-ins, allowing “a bit more room to breathe,” or a chance to “blow off steam,” and maybe do a little housekeeping here and course-correction. Maybe you feel that way, too.
Coming off last week’s integration essay, part one, I had an odd Nightwalking “road bump” on Sunday into Monday. By Tuesday morning I was able to rouse myself out of it—attributing it to a late hiccup of the “Ides of March,” as well as notoriously fickle Midwestern spring weather.
For the newcomers among us, this is “In the Sandbox,” our Friday roundtable on the concept of Daytalking, Nightwalking, and Stargazing, where we workshop and share ideas. The hope here is that input from our larger group will encourage further reflection, support, and action.
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This past week I finished Daniel Pink’s latest work, The Power of Regret, and I’ve—ahem—had no qualms about reading it. I’ll mention more about it in this weekend’s follow-up and final part of the integration essay, but if you get a chance to lay your hands on a copy it’s well worth your time, no matter what your current life situation.
One thing I’ll mention here that particularly moved me was Pink’s interview with Olympian bicyclist Mara Abbott. Talking about epic heartbreak, he quotes Abbott:
“If you have a broken heart, it means you’ve done something big enough and important enough and valuable enough to have broken your heart.”
I found that consoling; I hope you do, too.
So, for this week’s In the Sandbox prompt, it’s a two-parter building upon last week’s integration essay. No need to go into great depth (unless you want to), but it involves identity and the others’ perceptions:
In a word or two, who would you say you are? What particular terms would you use to describe yourself?
When have others described you (either directly to you or in the company of others) in a way that surprised you? Briefly, how does that description differ from your own perception of yourself?
Thanks again for being a subscriber to StoryShed Learning & Media, and as always I look forward to your comments below!
Well I have impostor syndrome, so any and all compliments I get I see as unfit. The critics on the other hand, those I always see as spot on:))
1. Recovering optimist 2..“Artist” 3. I am not an artist - more like an infinite beginner.