A great close to a great conference
What would you do if you only have 37 more days?? I am sure most of us will be mentioning this morning's closing speaker, Patty Digh. Her talk was very personal and I was impressed with the emotional and intellectual response I had to her presentation. It was personal in the fact that I think, from observation, that it impacted each of us at a level much deeper than just our profession. She spoke about being able to live each day to the fullest and do those things that are a value to you. Don't do something because of fame you may receive or the accolades....do it because it means something to you. Be selfish but selfless. Realize that you are part of a larger community and that what you do impacts that community as much as that community impacts you. The greatest idea is to take a step back and look at the big picture.
If you were unable to attend the meeting and are looking for a great takeaway, I do suggest looking at a copy of her book Life is a Verb. If anything, the pictures that are included will have a small impact on you and your great perspective.
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Comments
I too had the similar ying/yang response to Patti's talk. My cognitive take-away point was to remember to base decisions in values, rather than circumstances - not novel, but a powerful reminder to steer to your true north, even if it's not a straight line. As a CEO of a small staff association it can be difficult to keep that presence when so many things need your attention.
Personally, I got a bit misty-eyed during the exercise of being in the moment with another person and thinking about happy and sad circumstances that we have moved through in our lives. I didn't know my partner at all, other than introducing ourselves at the beginning; even so I felt compelled to hold her hands as we were instructed to look at each other for several minutes during the exercise. As I imaged my favorite childhood game, my first love, my first loss, I sincerely appreciated her grasp and just felt connected to her in the moment. To then consider how she felt as she went through the exercise, and then how others felt throughout the room, was both exhilarating and bewildering. It's a strong lesson that I won't forget, and many thanks to Patti and Margee, my briefly connected friend for letting me experience that.
Posted by: Arthur Hsieh | February 23, 2009 5:42 PM