write
Have confidence that if you have done a little thing well,
you can do a bigger thing well too.
David Storey
Mum and Dad are each brilliant in their own way. David has dedicated 20 years of working for someone else and will be examining how he will play out the rest of his working time. Lily, worked one year as a teacher and then stayed home to raise their three children.
The almost six year old Livie will be heading to a “big” school at the end of this trip, thirteen year old Daisy is not thrilled about leaving her friends for places with no shopping malls, and fifteen year old Jared only wears black graphic t-shirts and jeans and is lost without his computer.
They are for the most part a normal family that you too have living on your street.
Lily has her camera packed. She has taken up a recent interest in photography and although she considers herself quite creative, the mumbo jumbo technical stuff is what mystifies her. She’s excited to have so many opportunities to practise her book-learned skills.
David is a note-taker, he has already bought twelve identical black notebooks which he has painstakingly divided into the calendar days of every month they will be away.
He will be able to put words to Lily’s photographs, such as “where was this one taken?”.
The family has sat down together to talk about the strong points each of them will be bringing.
- Livie always wakes up happy, she will be the cheerleader, she doesn’t understand grumpy.
- Mum, Lily sees stories everywhere that she likes to learn from and share.
- Dad, David is unflappable, it’s the Boy Scout Leader training that’s ingrained. He once delivered a baby on the side of the road when the young new mom stared back at the new dad and said ‘You will NEVER touch me again.”
- Jared is a genius with technology, can fix things and will be the direction giver.
- And Daisy, well she hesitated in her response. But the family agreed, Daisy could spot the most unique shopping deals and quirky dining establishments as if by instinct.
When you hear about this family how does it relate to your team, committee or your family? Does everyone get a turn to shine, to contribute where they excel, to learn from each other? Does everyone have a chance to advance their skills by being the expert or watching the expert be vulnerable to a new experience. Do they take turns leading and following? Do they trust and rely on each other?
When I picture my neighbours and their suitcases, I wonder how each will assimilate their travelling experiences into their future lives. It appears that they will be active participants, but will the long period of time together make someone get lazy? Will the new become old? Or when they return will they be more courageous, welcoming of diversity, curious, yearning?
Yes, this family is as real as the ones you know. Each day they will explore unknown territory and will no doubt experience some awakening in self-knowledge too.
David Storey, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist also said, "Self-confidence is the memory of success".
In twelve months from now:
Will little Livie enter her grade one class exuberantly? Will she still be a cheerleader?
Will Lily be able to capture the trails of shooting stars and keep learning?
Will David have aptly filled his 12 notebooks and reached a decision for his future?
Will Jared have seen a world he can fix without technology?
Will Daisy have an appreciation of textiles and bracelets made by street urchins?
Your team or family may be locked into a more confined space for the next twelve months. Time however will still move along.
Will the new become old or will we unpack ourselves with self-confidence? (Click to Tweet)
Self-confidence is the memory of success. David Storey (Click to Tweet)
