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For me, having fun -- in Open Space and elsewhere (Oh Yes -- we are
always in Open Space) is perhaps the most significant indication that
something useful is being accomplished. I am not talking about to sort of
induced fun that seems to happen when you go to an "amusement
park" although maybe it even applies there too -- but the sort of
fun I am thinking about is that deep sense of satisfaction and joy
experienced when you are doing something you love, and doing it well. And
when fun breaks out in an Open Space, I know as nothing else can tell me
that -- everything is coming up roses. This has nothing to do with the
gravity of the issues under discussion, or the level of conflict
experienced -- even all that can be fun. So when Alan notes, <br><br>
"<font face="Comic Sans MS">On the second issue I also believe that
it is going to be 'interesting' to observe the influence of people who
see articles such as the above and try OST for themselves - without any
connections to professional practitioners, training, or publications. As
Larry in Toronto and doubtless others have commented: "Folk who are
being exposed to OST from people who don't really understand it are not
seeing the profound implications" - including having FUN. How may
this 'phenomenon' fit with 'our'(?) principles?" <br><br>
-- I guess I could feel really sad an upset. I am pretty clear why fun
doesn't put in an appearance. It has everything to do with control, and
the fact that for many of us, we have been taught that if you are having
fun, you can't be working, and therefore nothing useful can get done.
Happens in schools. Come on Children, stop playing, it is time to go to
work and learn something! How horrible!!! For me when fun stops, learning
ceases, and the possibility of useful outcomes reduces to zero.
<br><br>
So when this happens in Open Space -- how maddening! And it is also true
that even in those situations where folks attempt to open space very
seriously (as in, We will do this process correctly -- and you will do
what I say) -- fun, more often than not, shows up despite the effort to
suppress that awful thing. I am truly sorry for the folks who miss out on
the fun, and even sorrier for the facilitator who is working so hard,
getting it all right. But for those, who in spite of best efforts to the
contrary DO HAVE FUN, I think this is a wildly powerful, never to be
forgotten, learning experience, every bit as unique as discovering Open
Space for the first time, as indeed it is discovering Open Space for the
first time. And one way or another, I think we all have to go through
this. Prior to the experience, everybody I know of is sure it "won't
work." And certainly won't be fun. Then it does and it is -- and a
light goes on. So I can see what Larry is talking about -- but I
guess I choose to look at it as a glass half full. Do it again, and you
may get the whole enchilada. <br><br>
</font>Harrison<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-365-2093<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a><br><br>
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