“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” - Isaac Newton
I have just returned from a whirlwind visit to Ottawa where I shared my skills with community centres, a diversified local sports club, women entrepreneurs at a mountain retreat and in a private home. My ability to do so was made possible only by a combined efforts of individuals most of whom had never even met me before. Lori, Nikki, Joanne and most importantly Heather and Marc crafted a timetable and facilitated seamless logistics to ensure I could do what I do. Likewise, the memorable sunset blessing and celebration at Harbour City event space could only have been a success through the collaborative contributions of Jens, Alix, Karen and her entire team, Mayce, Teresa, and Wing Yan.
"No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you." - Althea Gibson
The success of the studio is not due to simply collaborating with others to produce a product. Nor is it simply a community of individuals with common characteristics. Rather it is through Unbuntu, an African term meaning 'I am what I am, because of who we all are.'
The word embodies the ideas of connection, community, and mutual caring for all. Nelson Mandela said it is 'the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others. that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.'
“Alone we can do do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Archbishop Desmond Tutu described it as " -- the essence of being human. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity."
Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein
At a micro level ants are Nature's superpower because of their complex decentralised system of cooperation. Each individual ant is unable to perceive the whole. Yet basic rules for local interactions result in living ant bridges and complex structures that defy logic without any central coordination. They work without ego to contribute their efforts to build, to create. Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. Vincent van Gogh
I fully appreciate my journey thus far and recognise that I could not be here without the effort of all those who have brought forth their time, energy, skills, support, knowledge and friendship. Looking to the future I embrace not knowing the outcome but to continue the journey together.
I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot, together we can do great things. Mother Theresa