I was facilitating introductions around a seventeen-person room to kick off a two day planning meeting in Juneau, AK last week. Participants were asked to share the usual – name, role, etc – and also something that inspires them to do the work they do.
In the role of facilitator, my job is to maintain neutrality on the “what” that’s being shared but hold keen attention for group dynamics, participation, and process. So I had to momentarily tamp my personal, excited reaction down when one woman shared her inspiration: awe.
Later, after the meeting, I shared with her that what she’d said resonated with me personally. We had a quick, slightly awkward exchange about it (switching in and out of participant/facilitator role to human-to-human can feel that way, and especially outside of the “safe to talk big picture” zone that a meeting space can create) and then the evening moved on.
In making the big life change to officially depart Alaska and move to a general, geographically mobile existence based out of the Mobile Art Studio I declared that I wanted to stay connected to a place that basically taught me awe: Alaska. How did I want to stay connected? Partially through art, although I knew my surroundings would lure me in different directions (ooo red rock!). Facilitation, difficult though it is, is something I do well in that I am always and forever learning it but it is suited to who I am and how I can contribute to causes I care about. So, I decided my intent was to remain connected to Alaska through this kind of service.
Miraculously, it’s panned out. I’ve visited Alaska for work three times for a total duration of about a month since we made the move in May of ’23.
Thing is, until this trip to Juneau I think it was still too soon for me to truly experience awe. I was grateful for the trips north. I loved getting to see people I care about and enjoy working with; I was pinching at myself to be there in person. I enjoyed hikes, walks, and runs. But that dopamine flooded part of my brain was for the most part unactivated.
Until last week.
Thanks to you, Juneau, first place I ever visited in Alaska for firing up that part of my brain again that is simply gobsmacked and giddy at beauty. And here’s to all of us finding and connecting awe in our own ways, and regularly. I believe it is a keystone to what it means to be human and to live a fulfilled existence – and that’s what keeps me going, in working through the muck to create what I can to inspire myself and you too.
Pics below!
