[OSList] OS for Dementia?

Suzanne Daigle sdaigle4 at gmail.com
Fri Nov 15 03:20:29 PST 2013


Thank you Christine. You have always been a warm glowing light in this
community, there to give me a big hug when I facilitated my first Open
Space at Ions in Tucson and then such an example of holding space for open
space on the OSI Institute US where I got to know you.

I learned a lot from you and what a lovely reminder to know all who are
lurkers on this list, being part of these conversations in their own very
special way.

Suzanne


On Fri, Nov 15, 2013 at 1:08 AM, Christine Whitney Sanchez <
christine at innovationpartners.com> wrote:

> Doug, Suzanne, Harrison and all,
>
> I find it interesting that a few weeks before Doug started this
> conversation, a parallel conversation about using Appreciative Inquiry with
> people with memory loss has been taking place on the AI Listserv.
>
> And I find it heartening to simply hear your voices via this wonderful
> list.  I’ve been a butterfly for quite a while but I am in the space with
> you.
>
> Namasté,
>
> Christine
>
> Christine Whitney Sanchez, Partner
> Innovation Partners International
> Phoenix, AZ, USA  +1.480.759.0262
> www.innovationpartners.com
>
> On Nov 14, 2013, at 7:50 PM, doug <ost at footprintsinthewind.com> wrote:
>
> Suzanne and Harrison--
>
> Thanks Harrison and Suzanne. What I picture from what you have each
> written is opening space in an even more open manner. Lisa-style, without
> words perhaps, just inviting with eyes and hugs and music or humming or
> pictures or dancing with your hands....
>
> :- Doug.
>
>
>
>
> On 11/14/2013 03:09 PM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
>
> Well Harrison... I guess I will need to reflect on that...or not so
> much.  Funny how when it gets real close, like really close, we do a lot
> to eliminate the pain (for a mom, a child or whoever) and pain there was
> when spaces around mom felt really closed and conversations seemed more
> like interrogations.
>
> Open Space was never like that for me so... I will open myself up and
> tell myself that whatever I did to make some of the hurt go away was not
> controlling or wrong, it was simply Life and Open Space. And I guess
> that's the point that I'm getting right now.
>
> So Doug, perhaps what I can imagine now through and with  Open Space is
> that more and more people would have opportunity to be with each other
> in the way that Open Space invites us to be with each other. And there
> would be much that would be good that would happen -- loving connections
> with new insights I imagine.
>
> Like wow, I can feel a few knots in my stomach feeling myself shift a
> belief that I was so certain about.
>
> Thank you for this rich insight Harrison. But I do still have those
> knots in my stomach thinking about it.
>
> Suzanne
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 11:27 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net
> <mailto:hhowen at verizon.net <hhowen at verizon.net>>> wrote:
>
>    Doug -- I've been a little slow to respond to this one. Slowness
>    seems to
>    come with advancing years. To your question -- OS for folks with
>    Dementia?
>    Why not?
>
>    If nothing else that population of folks would probably include just
>    about
>    everybody over 65. Of course, Dementia comes in a variety of flavors
>    from
>    mild to horrific, but those of us of a certain age have more than a
>    little
>    existential experience with the critter. It is a little upsetting,
>    sometimes. The name of your best friend which evaporated. Those lost
>    eyeglasses that you suddenly find on your nose. Finding yourself
>    standing in
>    the middle of a familiar room with absolutely no idea about why you were
>    there, and what on earth you came to do. It happens. Been there...
>
>    So, OS for Dementia? Certainly, unless of course those of us so
>    afflicted
>    have suddenly been excluded from the sacred circle of Homo sapiens. And
>    actually, I don't really think there is much choice. Fact is (I
>    find), all
>    the world is self organizing (open space) and life goes better for
>    those who
>    have learned, in one way or another, to navigate that world. Life gets
>    clunky, closed and (more) painful when we make the mistake of
>    thinking we
>    are actually in charge. I think this is true for all of us, but for
>    those of
>    us with diminished(ing) mental capacity there are some special traps
>    along
>    the way.
>
>    For example, take the situation of the forgotten name. We can sit
>    there and
>    agonize over the lapse of memory. We can beat on ourselves for being so
>    forgetful. We can remember (oh yes, we do remember some things!) how the
>    proper name just sprang instantly to mind...
>
>    With a little effort we can feel totally miserable, and our misery is
>    compounded by the fact that the harder we try to remember, the more
>    distant
>    that elusive name seems to become. But there is a solution -- Just
>    let it
>    go! More often than not, once we let go, the all important name
>    miraculously
>    appears. And if it doesn't... A smile is often better than proper
>    nomenclature.
>
>    A little Open Space is good for just about everything and everybody.
>    And I
>    have to admit that I have forgotten all the things it isn't good for.
>
>
>    Harrison
>
>    Harrison Owen
>    7808 River Falls Dr.
>    Potomac, MD 20854
>    USA
>
>    189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>    Camden, Maine 04843
>
>    Phone 301-365-2093 <tel:301-365-2093>
>    (summer) 207-763-3261 <tel:207-763-3261>
>
>    www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com>
>    www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com> (Personal Website)
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>    -----Original Message-----
>    From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
>    <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>
> >
>    [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>
>    <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>>]
> On Behalf Of doug
>    Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 11:10 AM
>    To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>    Subject: [OSList] OS for Dementia?
>
>    Friends--
>
>    Have been thinking that a population OST could serve in a major good
>    way is
>    among people who have dementia. How?
>
>    Perhaps we have a mixed group of people with dementia living in a
>    congregate
>    housing setting and teenagers. We gather them in a circle and do the
>    normal
>    things. The teenagers could help the oldsters remember the
>    instructions and
>    post topics. The title could be "Issues and Opportunities with Growing
>    Younger Every Day."
>
>    How, if at all, would you change the normal format of OST for this
>    group?
>    What other mixture of people would you invite? What other titles?
>
>    Perhaps we could get family members to gather with them around the topic
>    "Issues and Opportunities to Still Be Family" or "Meet Me Here Today."
>
>    I wonder.... I invite you to wonder with me....
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>
>
> --
> Suzanne Daigle
> Open Space Facilitator
> NuFocus Strategic Group
>
> FL 941-359-8877
> Cell: 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>
> s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com <mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com<s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com>
> >
> twitter @suzannedaigle
>
>
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-- 
Suzanne Daigle
Open Space Facilitator
NuFocus Strategic Group

FL 941-359-8877
Cell: 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
twitter @suzannedaigle
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