<p>Dear Harrison,</p><p>Thank you for this lovely note. Reminded me of my late dad who would speak so angrily at times wanting us all to join the fight on issues that he felt to be unfair. Too many to name! Under the surface of his heated disposition, was his dismay, sadness and frustration for the little guy. Outrage and caring bubbling inside with occasional outbursts, expressed in words and emotions that could not convey what he wanted to say. As the oldest child, I was the conciliator, the one who would try to hold the peace, seeking harmony and hoping to squelch the turmoil. Neither approach very effective though there was at the heart, a lot of caring mixed in with the tad of arrogance that rears its ugly head when we fight, try to control or show ourselves as the ones who know better than others, the stuff that makes us vulnerably human which we sometimes call leadership! Yup, a lot of stuff under this caring and conflict -- much of it hidden inside of us, not always having a place to show up and keep us safe.<br>
</p><p>Which brings me to the magic of Open Space, this thing that's always been there operating in the background of life. <br></p><p>The gift that you, Harrison, and others introduced over a quarter of a century ago with this Law of 2 feet, a few principles sprinkled in and some simple rules of the road to navigate us from marketplace to meaty, meaningful and powerful conversations which are then made transparent for all to see on a news wall and in a briefing book-- it's a gift that defies descriptions. It can only be experienced. <br>
</p><p><b>Open Space creates the space for conflict and caring to show up</b>, for us to see that in our differences, we are "mates" that are very much the same. That's what happens in Open Space....the inside of who we are gets to show up, instead of us just seeing each other in snippets from the limited impressions of how we appear to each other on the outside. No dress rehearsal, no lengthy strategic plan, no time-consuming coodination of speakers schedules, and presentations. We just get to be together on the court of life, in the now, with all that we know and care about, really sharing and hearing each other on the issues that matter to us, to see beyond our first impressions which then makes us <u><b>want </b></u>to get to work, to make a difference together. It's a healthy big start in the right direction. <br>
</p>
<p>A tad long what I've written. Truth be told, when I ran across Open Space 3 to 4 years ago, it changed my life and today I am as awestruck and passionate about it as I was when I first experieced it. Perhaps it is the stirrings in my soul from the London Olympic games. The Opening Ceremonies and what's ahead are also the result of lots of caring and conflict.Suddenly people everywhere, are like what happens in Open Space, sitting in a circle (in the stands, on the court, on couches and kitchen chairs), brimming with hope, pride, and anticipation knowing there is still lots of work ahead but also knowing that an entire world is united in this opening of space as the games begin. <br>
</p><p>I imagine the same spirit at the WOSonOS in London this coming October, when Open Space folks join their British hosts, sharing all of the passion and purpose we have around this Open Space work that we hold dear, letting conflict and care show up in the multiple sessions, knowing that these are the ingredients of great connection, learning, creativity, fun, transformation and life-long friendships. I can attest to those friendships and the deepening of my understanding and practice of Open Space after going to Taiwan, Berlin, Chile, parts of the US and Canada, with colleagues and clients and others. <br>
</p>So as our wonderful organizers, Phelim and others, from lands near and far, prepare for October WOSonOS and as we watch the Olympics, rivetted in our seats, I'm hoping that many of you, who have not done so yet, decide to make this historical trip to London, to revel with others in this thing called World Open Space on Open Space that will happen in the historical year where the Olympics have just been. A chance to be with Harrison and so many who write often on the OS list and others who hold the space, reading and doing what they do in their own more quiet way.
<p>Brimming on this second Olympic day from Florida!<br>
Suzanne</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 28, 2012 7:37 AM, "Harrison Owen" <<a href="mailto:hhowen@verizon.net" target="_blank">hhowen@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal">Caring and Conflict seem almost like polar opposites but as Marie suggests, they are integrally related, I think. I had a neighbor who was described as the most even tempered man in town Always mad! It was kind of a joke, but after knowing him for 40 years I came to see that his anger was actually a manifestation of the deep caring he felt, but could not fully express. Because of an odd combination of social pressures and norms he never had the space to be the caring person he was. Sad! So I think it is true: Show me a situation where there is no conflict, and I will show you a situation where nobody cares.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Harrison <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Harrison Owen<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">7808 River Falls Dr.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Potomac, MD 20854<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">USA<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
Camden, Maine 20854<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Phone <a href="tel:301-365-2093" value="+13013652093" target="_blank">301-365-2093</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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