HANG IN THERE, BUDDY. C’MON, NOW

Hang In There, Buddy. C’mon, Now

An atmosphere of "profound equivalency" guides all relationships [in the Andean culture]-- between humans and nature, between human and deities, between deities and nature. Each watches for cues for what will keep the other happy, and give affection and respect the other’s need.

                                                                     Priscilla Stuckey, Kissed By A Fox

In ontological organizational development, we say that there’s a field of relatedness where conversation lives. Here, we’re in connectivity and find our true sense of belonging. We contribute and allow ourselves to be held in this “equivalency.” In harmony with this principle, Priscilla Stuckey shares one Andean writer’s perspective: "With them [deities, animals and nature] we keep company; with them we converse and reciprocate."

“Hang in there, buddy. C’mon, now. Come on, baby.” This is the warm voice that the hypothermic dog heard, barely hanging on by his front paws, crying, having fallen into the icy waters. http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/623/This-Dog-Was-Scared-And-Freezing-To-Death-But-They-Never-Gave-Up-On-Him 

There’s a connection in life, a thread wrapping around each of us in moments of being fully engaged. Charlie was saved and with him, his rescuers, the media, and each of us connecting with the situation.

A near eighty-year old woman gave up her dream of dancing to become a mother. With her children well into adulthood, she moved to Spain. Her husband died shortly after. Instead of retreating, she went into a dance studio. This woman fulfilled her dream, causing amazement and tears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2LMxf3Df6I  We’re all inspired when one of us goes the distance.

Pharrell Williams hired directors “who were out of the box.” His video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM lightened the world. His production of “Happy” spawned over a thousand videos of others singing his song. We all need to stay in this field of relatedness: earth, animals, humans, old and young. It really is that simple.

Engaging a group of professionals, equine-leadership style, is a happy moment of mine. The group had a practiced intimacy, or so I thought. “What’s one story of you being with a horse?” A simple question; stories poured out, each unique, moving.  “I loved my horse, and then we moved….” One woman was hesitant. She was afraid of horses.

In the twenty years of gathering together, this group never shared these touching horse memories or this depth of connection with nature. Horses have big hearts. They love people authentically. They are masters in the field of relatedness. While we talked “horse” in the group room, they milled around inside the arena.

When we went out to engage the horses, things got hushed; something sparked new awareness. In the first exercise, the horses laid down, a sign of feeling safe. The group felt this honor and a new energy field of gentleness was revealed. Horses, barn, earth, sky, sun and humans were united. The woman who was afraid? She asked to join in the exercise learning about trust. She broke into tears when connecting with her horse. She’s still talking about it.

How about you, reader? What’s your happy moment standing in a field of connectivity?