FOCUS: Celebrate Differences Disciplines: Personal Mastery, Mental Models It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences. —Audre Lorde THOUGHTS It’s been so cold here that I’ve been walking the inside track at the Y. Yesterday a young woman ran past me, so balanced and light on her feet she seemed to float. I began to notice how many different shapes people come in, and how differently we move. That prompted me to think about how many differences there are between people: How we think What we find easy to do How we process and express emotion The people we like How we communicate What really matters to us What we find beautiful, inspiring, interesting The color and texture of our skin and hair What we find fun and funny DNA evidence shows that humans differ in less than one percent of their total genetic code. So many important parts of us are the same: our need for food, water, shelter, love, belonging. This is quite amazing when you think of how much time and energy we spend reacting to differences. What would it mean to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences, as Audre Lorde recommends? Yolanda King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King says, “We must celebrate differences until difference doesn’t make a difference.” COACHING TIPS Notice differences with interest and curiosity Honor differences between yourself and others Celebrate the differences Remember we’re 99% the same INVITATION Please join me for a 45-minute telegathering to explore celebrating differences. Call Wednesday, February 28th at noon Eastern (11:00 a.m. Central, 10:00 a.m. MT, 9:00 a.m. Pacific) 1-985-425-2620 X925 No need to register...just call at that time! Reach me: 1-888-907-HOPE (4673)or e-mail sharon@hopellc.com. I am a personal and executive coach and would be happy to offer you a complimentary coaching session by phone. Each month FRESH VIEWS focuses on a single topic, relates it to one of the five disciplines of a learning community, and offers a coaching tip and a follow-up telegathering. Please forward it to friends and colleagues. My purpose in writing FRESH VIEWS is to nurture, prod and encourage readers to think and talk about these topics with their families, friends and colleagues. Mine is only one view. Multiple conversations may deliver us to insights only hinted at here. Such a process sustains the vitality of learning relationships, learning families, learning organizations and learning communities. Sharon Eakes | 720 Maple Lane | Sewickley, PA 15143