Myself in six words

I attended a conference in Chicago recently and, wow, that was fun. What a great city for its neighborhoods, food, and fun. My high school friends flew out from all over the country and we tacked three days onto the conference just eating and laughing and shopping and exploring.

While at the conference, I attended a workshop by Gordon Mayer. He challenged us to tell the group something in six words. Something about yourself, why you do the work you do, your org’s mission. This is what I wrote about myself:

Trying to do good. Mixed results.

That has been the theme in my adult life when trying to be a good person. It’s easier than you can imagine. Just hold the door open for the person behind you. And it’s harder than you can get your brain around. I have mismanaged many relationships that developed with good intent but became complicated due to unequal power dynamics.

Still I try. And listen. And learn.

One night in Chicago, we were walking back to our Air B&B, and the Waze app put us onto this elevated path. It was empty and the moon was full and the air was cool and dry and it was so beautiful and perfect. When I got back to Atlanta and shared the moment with my friend, she was horrified that I put myself in such danger. But in that moment, I didn’t feel danger. I wasn’t even focused on danger vs. safety. I just took in the moment.

Memories, moments, relationships … they can be multiple things at the same time and seen differently depending on the vantage point.

Trying to do good. Mixed results.

Chicago’s elevated path: The 606