REIMAGINE COMMUNITY BUILDING
To be a complete person we must travel many paths, and to truly own anything we must first all give it away. This is not a riddle. Only those who share their multiple and varied skills, true friendships, and a sense of community and knowledge of the earth know they are safe wherever they go. - Bill Mollison
What kind of community do I want to live?
Picture this: a world where everyone's cheering for each other, where being jealous or super competitive is so old-school, and where we share what we know just to make the world a cooler place. Think of it as living in a 'Century of Awesomeness' – no more outdated superstitions or narrow-mindedness being bossed around by ignorance. Sounds neat, right?
what if we spot disconnections?
HEAD saying: There is no community and this is what it is and I can’t do anything about it, but curious to gain new perspectives.
HEART feeling: I sense discomfort and low energy thinking about it, but wonder why enjoy being in beautiful communities created by others.
HAND doing: I don’t see anything I can do to change that, but I wonder why people doing things for others with joy.
what if we start listening?
HEAD saying: Too many problems and people are too busy wanting to keep up with rapid changes in life, and I wonder that how to start building community.
HEART feeling: Uncomfortable, challenged and overwhelmed, yet curious
HAND doing: I pay attention to listening to my heart, neighbors and what’s emerging.
what if we commit to shift?
HEAD saying: Very interesting to see interconnected relationships, a collective path, and my capacities need to develop.
HEART feeling: I’m still fearful with questions about life yet excited to flip and connect.
HAND doing: Less bothered by material things; more patient, trusting, and giving
what if we practice new behaviors?
HEAD saying: we are all connected and everyone can participate in a community building.
HEART feeling: more connected and hopeful
HAND doing: I spent time to support junior youth spiritual empowerment and meaningful conversations, .
How can we apply the ME=WE Experience to our lives?
“I hear my grandson’s replying after hearing my hopeful stories of building community starting from home.”
-an imaginative conversation with a grandma and grandson
As I sat in my cozy armchair, enjoying my afternoon tea, I heard the sound of rapid footsteps approaching. Moments later, my grandson burst into the room, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and curiosity, as if he had just stumbled upon something truly remarkable.
"Grandma!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain himself, "You won't believe what happened today!" I couldn't help but smile at his infectious enthusiasm. "Tell me all about it," I encouraged, eager to hear what had stirred him up. He took a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush, "Well, you know how you've been telling me about those mobius-strip workshops that you do, and how they can make a difference in the world? I didn't really get it at first. I mean, how could simple things like that change anything, right?" I nodded, understanding his initial doubt but also sensing a shift in his perspective.
He continued, "But today, something amazing happened. I decided to try one of those ME=WE things at home. You know, where everyone gets to have a say, and we listen to each other without judging. I suggested it for my summer camp decision. And, Grandma, it worked! We all listened, shared our ideas, and actually made a better decision together."
His eyes sparkled with newfound understanding and excitement. "I introduced a rule," he explained, "that everyone can equally contribute to making a decision without judging or imposing their own ideas. Hesitantly, everyone was curious about what this space could do, but to my surprise, we actually enjoyed listening to each other's opinions, building upon each other's ideas to find the best solution, and expressing appreciation."
"But that's not all," he went on, "I started paying more attention to people around me. Like, there was this moment when one of my basketball buddies was super stressed about his chores. So, I offered to help him out after practice. But then, it hit me—why stop there? So, we turned it into a fun cleaning party, and we even did our homework together." I couldn't help but share in his enthusiasm, "That sounds wonderful!"
He nodded vigorously, his energy palpable. "It was, Grandma! It's like I've discovered this whole new world where I can connect with people and make a real difference. I'm thinking of organizing a neighborhood clean-up day with my friends and having a big potluck dinner. We want to bring our community closer together." As he spoke, I could see the transformation happening before my eyes. This young boy, once filled with doubt, was now a believer in the power of ME=WE practices.
Finally, he looked at me with determination, "I want to keep learning, Grandma. I want to hear about how other kids are making a difference in their communities. Can you help me with that?" I couldn't have been prouder. "Of course, my dear," I said, "Let's brainstorm. We began to sketch out our ideas and dreams on a big sheet of paper using a colorful array of pencils.
What’s your thought and expression about building vibrant community?
We believe that all of us can co-create what and how we build a community emerging from the future. Please share your ideas, story or any expressions about building vibrant community such as music, poem, drawing, duduling, etc. with us. If you have any images then please provide a link to view. Thanks!