Can we appreciate old and young at the same time?

The wisdom of past experiences to offer us what might come. And the energy and curiosity of an open mind.

Even the physicality of it, our incredible healing powers of our body’s internal systems and the intuitive knowing in muscle memory in fluid movement.

Staring at the salsify flower one branch the flower, and the other the seed. Within the same stock expressing what will become and what it is.

> What is for you? What do you hope will become?

I stopped to smell the rose, Max dog kept walking by, he was more interested in what was under the deck at the yurt. Isn’t it funny that, the incredibly beautiful pungent scent of rose stops me in my tracks and yet it matters not to Max dog. What is important to one is not important to another. What is impactful to one may not be impactful to the other. The trick is to find the congruence. We both want to enjoy our walk home and be patient with each other in what we both want to see on the way.

The CTO of a scale-up I’m working with has a different perspective of how to build trust, in his mind you “earn your stripes”. The COO believes in hiring smart people and offering them trust to execute. In her mind, failure is only the opportunity for shared learning. Fundamentally different perspectives on the same path to success. How did they find the congruence?

Of course, it comes down to dialogue - sharing transparently how they will each build trust through collaboration both with each other and the other members of the team. What seems obvious but is not. It’s a hard thing to do as simple as it sounds, because there are so many assumptions about what collaboration, trust, feedback, and success is. They must be open and willing to go slow to go fast by sharing those assumptions and making explicit the implicit. That way, when one of them stops on the path, the other doesn’t get frustrated.

How will you make the implicit, explicit?

… that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

A lone firefly blinked in dusk - I’m over here, I’m over here, don’t forget about me.

How easily we can forget about these magical creatures

Can we just as easily forget our own magic? Our own power? And what is our ‘here’ - the way of expressing our true purpose.

What is your magic?

On our evening walk to the pond, we were called to look up. The bird that called a large bright yellow finch. The largest we’ve seen all season. Beautifully impressive and lit up by the sunlight it’s black wings contrast against the bright yellow feathers of its body. Yellow finch called out in song, C responded in kind and we all played like that for a while. Wondering what the view was like from up there, 60 ft in the air on the dead branch of the tall maple. how wonderful it must be to see it all to feel big even though it’s small. Perspective is everything.

An executive I’m working with, new to a team is finding the way to collaboration and teamwork. She is the most seasoned of them all in her role, the rest are all new to the function and this being the first time for them in their seats. Everyone brings great depth of experience in critical areas for the success of the company. However, the team as ‘team’ is still learning how to collaborate and trust. Not easily balanced among the team. Instead judgement shows in lack of communications manifesting in cycling through topics with greater drama.

There is a saying asa coach, we have to meet the client where they are, just as we meet each other where we are and consider perspective. What this executive knows is that she’s working within the team’s ability to build trust, she knows what their defaults are and how they behave for critical decisions under pressure, and they have not named it as a team. That is the invitation. To name it name what they each need in order to move quickly decisively and in unity. A simple sounding need, but one that requires the willingness and the ability to perceive from someone else’s view and have effective dialogue discussion inquiry to verify what your understanding or lack there of us true, thus the paradox of meeting the client where they are . As coach, we see what they don’t yet to see.

I can imagine what the fantasies not all of it of course but my childlike imagination can go further still. Range in perspective range and motion is a wonderful thing.

Where do you want to extend your range?

We came across a lone orchid in amongst the wild sunflowers and stuffed up one bloom, with only it’s black butt showing was a bumble bee gorging on the pollen to be had. Joy bliss and satiation emanated from this tiny creature.

Having finished with that flower bud Bumblebee slowly backed out and made ready to get to the next bud. Methodical, tenacious and dedicated to the pursuits is all Bumblebee represented. Certain not to give in to any obstacle and give over to the joys of the pursuit. We watched in awe.

Just at the bottom of the ridge a smaller bumblebee moved along from flower to flower in the Asparagus fields.

These bugs amaze us - tiny resilient and capable - we can’t underestimate what is possible with will and skill.

What do you want to overcome with your resilience and skill?

The bees that stop at the Asparagus, now flowering and turning to seed - feast on the pollen.

A butterfly having just emerged from its chrysalis.

Rock flowers bursting with bright yellow starry flowers.

Everywhere we look there is something to behold in Spring time - emerging, becoming, being.

We are also constantly changing, learning and growing. I caught up with a farm friend to share how we each are doing, and he offered - I learned something new today and so it was a great day, I love learning.

A tech executive I had been coaching shared that he shifted his daily habit to start each day and each project around what he wanted to learn.

If we’re open - nature will meet us in wonder awe and growth.

Stop, look, appreciate.

What’s on your learning agenda?

But give us a question and we'll look for our own answers.” ― Patrick Rothfuss

Today is about showing up and putting words on this page

The most beautiful moment left me speechless today. Watching the wind play with the tall grass on a hillside just before the pond. The sun high in the mid-morning sky. Being with the dance of wind, grass, bees. Being in it to witness, to accept and to enjoy. Gratitude is the feeling that permeates the moment.

All that is in bloom is breathtaking. All that is growing is awe inspiring. It matters not what we worry about, only that it is.

The thoughts of the day attempt to re-enter my mind but I am taking back again and again to these moments. The joy of eating a wild black locust blossom for the first time. The quality of light that was today - clear pure light. Again the thoughts attempt to come back in and again they are not entertained. To relive these moments, instead, again and again.

Ending my day sitting with a friend at the picnic table to welcome the night and one more chore to nourish the flower beds with water not knowing if it will rain as called for or not - I want more beauty, more blossoms and to feed them as I wish to feed myself. With loving care and attention.

> What loving care and attention might you offer yourself?

I forgive Max-dog his nature as soon as I see his happy tail walking down the path. He stops listening to chase what his nose tells him is there. He slows his pace ready to go after the dreaded red squirrel. He doesn’t care that we say “get out of there” as he dives in and checks what is available in the compost. He is happy to offer his kisses when he feels good and not when he doesn’t. These are elements of his nature. And while I may have a judgment about them or him in the act, I will forgive him his nature and hold tight to the leash when I don’t want him to pursue these things or let go when it feels right to do so.

A team lead I’m working with is frustrated he cannot get one of the folks on his team to follow through. He perceives it as a lack of accountability and a performance issue. He had a crucial conversation and learned his direct report knows about the misses, but gets overwhelmed and is afraid to ask for help. This is his nature, and so they need to redesign their relationship in a way that can create a shorter leash for them both so they can better manage against deliverables.

Where do you want to shorten a leash?

So much green!

Looking south from the top of the pond we took in the sensation of green.

Green permeating everything in a welcomed way

Green to signify summer is on its way.

Green an energized feeling that invites keen observation and a strange combination of calm excitement.

Green bright fluorescent and depth of dark reflected from the cedar forest onto the water making everything seem green

Where is your promise of something to come you wish to acknowledge now?

A lone turkey vulture watched us from the branch of a large maple on the eastern ridge of the pond. Sitting still except its head following our approach. Max-dog had not spotted Turkey Vulture yet, and I wondered how long before Max-dog would give chase, and Turkey Vulture would take flight. It wasn’t too long after I formulated the thought that Max-dog burst into a flat out run towards the vulture in the tree.

Turkey vulture hardly fussed, gracefully spread its wings and moved into the sky flying South-East towards the old Orchard on the other side of the ridge. It didn’t need to look back upon us, knowing full well what and who we were.

Shortly after, three geese flew north west over the old Orchard and I wondered of the one I had seen a few days before, had he joined the two.

A leader I coach was feeling lonely in his role. Did others see the challenges he faced?, feel the tired he felt? and experienced the fear that seems pervasive? Yes. But we don’t know until we share. Until we find the others to share what we see, then nothing feels insurmountable or forever. And the only way to find the others is to seek and share. That takes courage.

Reflecting on the lone goose that eyed us the other day, it continued to seek good shelter and kept calling to find the others. Time and persistence no doubt will reward its effort.

Who are you seeking and what do you want to share?