Full Circle Associates

Since Thursday I have been immersed in a new tribe: the Visual Practitioners. People who listen with amazing depth and bring peoples words into a new life in images on the wall. Some are graphic recorders who focus on accurate capture of conversations. Some are graphic facilitators who use images as part of a group process. Some, like me, recognize and thirst for the ability to use image in our work - regardless of that work.

On the first day we started with a World Cafe asking the question "What does IFVP want to become?" Through three rounds of conversation and a whole group conversation, it became clear that the question, "What are we now" was still in front of our eyes. As a new-bee, I could only listen and imagine possibilities.

As a new-bee, or even an outsider, I heard various threads: people wanting to expand their business and the reach of visual practitioners , contributing more to organizations. I heard people wanting to change the world, at the personal and individual all the way to the whole systems level. But it was still a focus on "what we are today."

We have 3 more hours together this morning. I am burning with curiosity to see if the question "What might we, or what DO we want to become?" surfaces again.

On another tack, I have been blissed out to find people here who are deeply connected to other people in my network; people my friends have been talking about for years, saying "you should meet Firehawk" or "You should meet David Sibbet." Well, I met them, like long lost friends, diving into conversations like a fishing bird into water.

Finally, I am so grateful to be a new bee. To live on the edge, rather than the center, of this community. It gives me permission to ask questions - including "stupid questions." To be able to layer on another context for the work that may be different. (Three of us engineered a small coup last night, resisting the individual nature of the graphics jam designed to evoke new icons, and instead did a collaborative 6 foot wall version, filled with laughter, humor and a ton of learning from each other. More about that later too, with pictures.)

Living on the edge of many networks gives me views into many worlds, helps me understand the central nature of connection and context. I can connect people across domains and networks. I can offer another perspective which might trigger new learning. I can be forgiven for my missteps and ignorance as long as I walk the edges with some humor and humility. It is a blissful place to walk.

There is a long wait at the airport this afternoon for more reflections, but I felt I needed to jumpstart before breakfast.