[OSList] A Preface

Thu Mar 17 06:31:30 PDT 2022

Michael and Birgitt too -- Perceptive as always. On the subject of "Spirit
disappearing" That was actually an observation from my life. There have
been times when Spirit went poof and I was decimated -- and then I
discovered that the grief process was actually Spirit renewing itself --
(which is what I said.) I know of many others who feel/felt the same way,
and I hope that they too will make my discovery -- that grief is actually
renewing itself. And sure post it at the top of my "papers" or wherever.

Harrison

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 1:30 AM Michael Herman via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> I think your preface covers a lot of good ground, Harrison.
>
> I thought this was classic:  "I am a storyteller.  To be truthful..."  You
> tell both sides like nobody I've ever known!  Not sure everyone will read
> it as humorously as I did.  Maybe it wasn't even intended that way.  But I
> think you could leave out "To be truthful."  Just be truthful, without
> narrating it, without taking that step back to observe, only four words
> into the piece.
>
> Where Birgitt picks out "Spirit disappears," I think she's on to
> something.  Might make that, "When Spirit eludes me/us..." or "When Spirit
> escapes..."  I guess I like the latter.  It fits better with Ending.  And
> it sparks us to some wondering about where it might go "to" in those
> moments when it seems to disappear.
>
> A couple other small word things... "It is true, multiple words..." didn't
> capture how many words... maybe "While many words are spoken..." or "A
> multitude of words might be spoken..."  And in the opening of the next
> paragraph, I'd say "This "strange event"..." rather than "The..."
>
> I appreciate Birgitt's thought about ending with the "warning" paragraph,
> and "be careful."  It works both ways, but differently.  I think it's a
> stronger ending than what you have, but I do think it works best where you
> have it.  Which leads me to wonder what I might be missing in the last
> line(s).
>
> Ending as you have, you invite people to enjoy and share the story, but I
> think you could go further.  You could invite readers to  "Please enjoy,
> make it your own, and pass it along.  We are all storytellers now, [always
> have been and always will be].  Good luck!  And keep your Spirit up!
> [That's what this book is about.]"  Or something like that, something in
> the spirit of "anyone with a good head and good heart."  The funny thing
> about your story is that it doesn't go on because people share it... it
> goes on because people step up and share their own story, inside of or
> extending from, yours.
>
> When you're satisfied that it's done, would it be appropriate to post this
> same story (tweaked for reference to "this book") atop all of your writings
> at openspaceworld.com?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
> MichaelHerman.com
> OpenSpaceWorld.org
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 7:06 PM Birgitt Williams via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear Harrison,
>> as always, your writing is inspiring. You asked for feedback and here is
>> what would make this preface writing work better for me. It is all of
>> course fine as it is. However, if you were to take the beginning sentences
>> and put them at the end in exactly the order that you wrote them. This
>> would leave the ending of the preface with the words 'be careful', a phrase
>> sure to get the pages turning. Or is it only me that would turn those pages
>> when admonished to 'be careful' as it would peak my curiosity. Can you
>> picture a strengthening of your message? the sentences I am referring to
>> are:
>>
>> "I am a story teller.
>>
>>
>>
>> To be truthful, I was trained as an academician, but I came to a
>> startling recognition: *Nobody was ever moved by facts, figures, and
>> footnotes.  A good story, however, will move Spirit and minds.*
>>
>>
>>
>> I should warn you of what you already know: Storytellers have a very
>> light regard for the truth, as in “The facts of the matter,” and “What
>> actually happened”  However, if the story is a good one, The Truth will pop
>> out, which is what makes a story good  – one that you will remember ... and
>> may change your life. Be careful."
>>
>>
>> aI don't believe Spirit disappears. it is constant. Our sense of Spirit
>> disappearing can be strong, especially when there are endings. I love when
>> you say that endings are also the work of Spirit. I would prefer that the
>> words about Spirit disappearing are changed. The constant of Spirit, life
>> force, present always, accessible always, is essential for Open Space
>> Technology to work.
>>
>>
>> with love and blessings,
>>
>> Birgitt
>>
>>
>>
>> [image: Picture]
>>
>>
>> *Birgitt Williams*
>> *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants  *
>> *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership
>> development, and the power of nourishing  a culture of leadership.*
>> www.dalarinternational.com
>>
>>
>> >> Learn More & Register
>> <http://www.dalarinternational.com/upcoming-workshops/> for any of our
>> upcoming workshops here.
>>
>>
>> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, NC, USA 27613
>> Phone: 01-919-522-7750
>> Like us on Facebook
>> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG>
>>
>> Connect on LinkedIn
>> <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 4:37 PM Harrison Owen SR via OSList <
>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Audrey Hepburn, a Young Chinese lady (that really is her name!)  tells
>>> me that she is going to publish some of my books in Chinese and, would I
>>> write a preface? I said I would try, but always following my
>>> fundamental dictum (Never work harder than you have to) I suggested doing
>>> one for all. It is a preface and you could stick it anywhere... maybe. Easy
>>> said -- but I never quite figured how hard it might be to summarize 60
>>> years of thinking into a page and a bit. I have no idea if I have
>>> succeeded, But you might -- and if not let me know, and I"ll try to do
>>> better.
>>>
>>> Harrison
>>> --
>>> 7808 River Falls Drive
>>> Potomac, MD 20854 USA
>>> 301-365-2093
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OSList mailing list
>>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> Past archives can be viewed here:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20220317/47d2b8e6/attachment.html>