Beliefs. Diving into Manifesto Depth

How are you doing on creating your Manifesto? As you likely know, I am a fan of Manifesto’s and I recently wrote mine. I’ve been reflecting on the various parts of mine, to more deeply explain who I am. My intention in doing this reflection is two-fold. One is to know myself better. And two, perhaps to inspire you!

Here’s the next part of the Manifesto:

I believe in movement, healthy, non-processed food, generosity, laughter, authenticity, deep listening, holding space, learning, enthusiasm & friendship.

Movement

Since I was a little kid, I’ve loved to move and dance! Early on, I organized parades, which included dancing stops. When I rediscovered exercise in my 30’s, dancing was an excellent way to stay fit when traveling. I’d put on some good music in my hotel room and set a timer and dance and smile!! Here’s a video of me dancing!!

I never said I was good at it!

Whenever I get overwhelmed with life or down about something, I’ve learned one of the best things to do is move my body. What about you?

Healthy, non-processed food

When I was a kid, I enjoyed going to the various gardens my parents kept. My mother in particular was quite committed to gardening. She was a thrifty woman and the garden was an excellent way to provide low-cost, healthy food for our family of five. I learned early about the value of weeding and noticing how the vegetables grew. Garden grown tomatoes continue to be one of my favorite all-time foods!

After cancer the second time, I did an assessment of my life. I wanted to control all the things I could control, to not end up with cancer a third time. Immediately I realized, I can control what I put in my mouth. I gave up dairy and meat. A number of things I read convinced me of the wisdom of this decision.

Within 6 months, I felt better than I had in many years! Along the way, I saw the documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer featuring Kris Carr. I got to go see her speak at a local bookstore, and I have purchased almost all of her books. My favorite one is Crazy Sexy Kitchen. I highly recommend it to everyone!

When one doesn’t eat meat, dairy or gluten ever and processed food extremely rarely, it becomes essential to learn how to cook! I eat well, and if you’re interested, check out Kris Carr!

Here’s her book:

Generosity

Most of us live from a place of scarcity, without even realizing we do. Our capitalistic society promotes materialism. We’ve been duped to think that things create happiness. So many of us work crazy long hours, putting our bodies and souls under tremendous stress, so we can buy more stuff.

I’ve been duped in this way too. Over the last few years, I am poorer financially than I have ever been in my adult life. Strangely, I find that I am happier than I’ve ever been. I’ve discovered that I have more space in my heart to give. I volunteer for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Lean In community. I am the Local Leader for the Minneapolis P.ink Day.

Along the way, I’ve also discovered I am more able to gracefully receive. And the incredible generosity of several of my friends has helped me at moments where it’s made a profound difference.

Laughter

I recently had my first colonoscopy and they gave me a very light, low dose sedative. As sedatives and all drugs do with my body, I was immediately out like a light. When I came to, I immediately started laughing! My friend Alex, a two time Stage IV colon cancer survivor, who was with me to drive me home, looked at me and said with a big grin on her face, “What’s so funny?” And she started laughing too. Everything she and the nurse said for the next 10 minutes caused me to bust up over and over again! I was convinced I ended up in the comedy zone.

Then I remembered that this was a similar response to the response I had after my mastectomy. Apparently, anesthesia for me creates delight and laughter. Or at least, that’s how my system releases the toxins of the stuff they give me. I figure, oh well! I am a huge fan of laughing! As a pal once said a long time ago, laughter is the best way to give our internal organs a massage!

Authenticity

In this day and age, it’s easy for all of us to tell if someone is being real or fake. My whole life I’ve been attuned to whether someone was being real with me or not. Early on I learned that authenticity speaks to me. And if that’s what I want from others, I must dare to go first.

Deep listening

When I was 27 years old, a former student who became a friend, Rama Davis, told me that I talked too much. I was surprised and a bit hurt. I took a deep breath, and asked him why he thought that. He leaned forward and told me that being silent with others was okay. I didn’t need to fill the silence with my words. Needless to say, this profoundly changed my life. I no longer feel the need to fill silence with my words. Instead, I listen. I am very interested in what is happening around me. People have told me that when I am listening, it looks like I am paying attention with my whole body. That is how it feels.

Holding space

My former mentee and Big Picture Learning coach, Amber Kim was with me learning how to coach Big Picture advisors, and I was talking about how to facilitate a learning environment for adults. I kept talking about holding space. This was in about 2005, before this was even remotely a common term. It was one I included in the book I wrote, Open to Outcome, and it was a term I had been using since the early 1990’s. Finally Amber interrupted me and she said, “What exactly do you mean, holding space?”

I stopped and thought a moment. Then told her, “Image that when you are with a group that is learning that you are standing or sitting with your arms wide open. What you are doing as the learning is unfolding, trust is being tested and insight is being gained, is you are holding the space. For the safety and well being of the group, for every individual who is in the room.”

Recently, Amber told me she explains her work using the language, holding space!

Learning

I’ve been going to acupuncture for over 25 years. I discovered the magic of it when I was 24 and living in Santa Cruz, California. I got terrible headaches from having horrible sinus issues. Acupuncture cured me right up. Since it’s a medicinal path more than 4,000 years old, I figure there’s something effective about it. I know it saved my life through chemo, radiation and now for the low-grade chronic pain I deal with daily.

One of my current acupuncturists, at the Penny George Institute where I go, is a man named John Fall. He’s a bit older than me and we recently talked about the aging process. He keeps himself young, flexible, strong and fit by skiing and more. He told me he’s starting a doctoral program. I asked him what called him to do that, and his reply was, “To keep learning.” That answer made my heart sing! I love learning and plan to keep learning my whole entire life.

Enthusiasm

My enthusiasm goes along with my love of laughter! I am grateful that I am in touch with joy. My general belief is, why not? Enthusiasm flows right through me!

Friendship

And finally, the most valuable thing that has saved me my whole life is friendship. On that note, I leave you today.

This was an extra long blog post. Thanks for reading through to the end! I appreciate you.

Please leave a comment telling me some of your beliefs. I love learning, as you know!

And learning about you is wonderful!!!