SV: Why I do what I do -- A letter from Indonesia

[Thomas Herrmann]

Thanks for sharing, dear Harrison
Made my day too. What a wonderful description of butterflies and how
rewarding it can be to act like one, instead of sitting in groups that are
not important for me.

Every now and then I get this question too. "Isn?t it boring for you during
an event?" I?ve never ever felt bored being facilitator and mostly I don?t
have a clue where the time went when it?s over. I just hang around enjoying
the life of butterflies, bumblebees and the life in open space. OK I prepare
some of the documentation and pick some coffee-cups but that?s about the
"productive work" I do. Guess I?m holding space.

Seems like spring finally arrived over here in the west of Sweden (yesterday
it was snowing again!) so I will go out and welcome it/him/her or whatever.
Thomas Herrmann


> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Fran: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]For Harrison Owen
> Skickat: den 7 april 2006 13:36
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Amne: Why I do what I do -- A letter from Indonesia
>
>
> Every now and again somebody asks me why I do what I do, with the
> implication that doing nothing (in Open Space) could get real boring. Of
> course I never get a question like that from people on this LIST, but you
> know what I am talking about :-). Anyhow, this morning I received a letter
> from Dania, a young lady from Indonesia whom I met at the
> Congress for Imams
> and Rabbis. In my response to her I said simply, "You made my
> Day!" - with a
> little addition and translation of this Americanism. The letter follows. I
> hope it makes your day as well!
>
> Harrison
> *********************************************
> Dear Mr Owen,
>
> My name is Dania Pratiwi. We met at the 2nd world congress of imams and
> rabbis for peace in Seville, Spain. I came as a student of Children of
> Abraham. I can still remember our interview in the dining room.. do you
> remember what I said, that Open Space is a playground? I felt very
> embarrassed after that..
>
> Well, Open Space is like a playground for me, but I want you to
> know that I
> enjoyed it a lot. Open Space give me (and other participants) a freedom. A
> freedom to choose what we want to do in that congress. Some people joined
> the sessions. Some people had informal discussions at the lobby.
> Some people
> were just sat on the sofa and had their snacks (for HOURS). Some
> people went
> to the city. Some people went to their room and sleep (my roomate did
> this..) we did whatever we wanted, and it was fun!
>
> I myself joined a session which conducted by Ari Alexander, Children of
> Abraham's co-executive director. We had some fun there. After that, it was
> my turn to conduct the session. But no one came to my session,
> except Yasser
> (another Children of Abraham's student. He's my friend) we got bored. we
> decided to left the session and explored the lobby.Then I saw a rabbi who
> sat alone. I sat beside him and we had a discussion. After that I explored
> the lobby again and met another rabbi. I had a discussion with
> him too. Then
> I explored the lobby again, and met another rabbi. Talked. met
> another one.
> Talked. And another one and another one and another one.. I kept
> doing that
> untill dinner time.
>
> I love having discussion with the Rabbis, because I've never met a rabbi
> before. Actually, it was my first time to met Jewish. Most people in
> Indonesia are Muslims, and I've never met a Jews here. I really
> enjoyed the
> discussions! The rabbi were nice to me.
>
> Mr Owen, I want to thank you for creating such a 'playground' for
> us. Thank
> you for giving me the opportunity to 'play' with the Imams and
> Rabbis. I had
> a great time there. I really can't thank you enough for this.
>
> Let me know if you have plan to visit Indonesia and conduct the open space
> system here. I'd love to join you and be your tour guide here!
> It was nice
> to meet you, and I hope I can be as great as you someday..
>
> Best regards,
> Dania
>
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland   20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
>
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
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