Nogie King, Executive Director
Reflecting on Our Time Together
At our farewell luncheon, I shared a few thoughts with everyone about how much this organization has meant to me. I also wanted to share it with those of you who were unable to attend.
WAW has been all about authenticity – that quest for who we really are. That exploration to find where that magnificent being under all of the rubble of false beliefs, limiting points of view, deep seated fears and a cornucopia of hurts might be located. We all know deep inside of ourselves that this authenticity stuff exists and we can all sense our potential.
But often we just don’t know how to shine and the journey to authenticity has many obstacles. Sometimes we even get vertigo as we move through the transitions into periods of the unknown. Sometimes we know that we have great potential but just can’t quite find our rhythm. Sometimes the timing is not quite right and we have to wait for some other piece of the puzzle to line up like a cog in the wheel.
Yet we keep flowing on, just like the stream in its quest to reach the ocean. We often don’t know the outcome; many times we cannot see the way. Yet this drive for our own beauty and brilliance keeps pulling us forward.
Believe it or not, organizations are like that too - on a constant quest towards authenticity. For reasons that I cannot yet understand, Wisdom at Work has reached a point where a significant shift is necessary. A letting go is called for at this moment in our quest for our own authenticity. We are in the midst of a transition and no one can really forecast what’s around the next bend.
We have been providing inspiring speakers and programs at our 4th Fri luncheons and workshops for over 10 years. And I am proud of that! We have provided space for people to come and be with their tribe – a place where we can speak in the language of the heart – even about work. I am proud of that! We have been a venue for people to connect to one another and I have personally forged some amazing friendships out of this group. I am incredibly grateful for that!!
I am a little sad to say goodbye to something that has been a refuge for me for so many years. But sometimes we need to step beyond our safe places and venture out into the world, right? Sometimes it is hard to let go – and sometimes that is exactly what we need to do.
I have no idea how – or even if – WAW will re-invent itself. That remains to be seen, but I do know that we have had a lot of amazing board members over the years –dedicated to the idea of bringing wisdom into the workplace; working hard in various ways to encourage us to bring our whole selves to work; and standing for the concept of humanity and soul in the world of work. These efforts have not stopped just because those leaders have gone on to other endeavors. I don’t expect that they will stop now.
Wonderful and energetic and caring people have stepped up in the past. I don’t doubt that that will continue. I just don’t know at this moment what it will look like.
I don’t know what will happen to this organization on the other side of this transition. I would be happy as a peach if a whole new crop of energized wisdom at workers stepped up to lead us into even bigger and better things, but I do know that the purpose – standing for bringing our authentic selves to work – will continue. I know heartfelt work and the quest for the freedom to be ourselves will keep right on moving along.
Also I know that I am incredibly grateful for all of the dedication and heartfelt presence of everyone that has ever been to our luncheons or attended any of our events. In the words of my favorite angel – Sue Cullen – you all matter so very much!! You matter to our world! You matter to this work! And you matter to me. I say thank you for just being who you are and for being a part of this journey.
I can only assume that this transition is one of those dizzy moments where the future is unclear. But I trust that we are connected in some beautiful shining way that will eventually emerge.
And in the meantime, as they say in Texas – Happy Trails Until Then…
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