…heartbeat
of the positive revolution
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We're All On the Same Team. Years ago I was a student in “Jane’s” class. I overheard a friend of mine, “Cheryl,” making snide remarks about Jane’s teaching style to a group of students sitting near by. On the break, I suggested to Cheryl, who was herself a professional trainer, that she offer Jane some constructive tips rather than being critical behind her back. Recently I attended another training program of Jane’s. I was dismayed to notice that her style had not changed much, and wondered if anyone had ever given her useful feedback. After her program, I sincerely thanked Jane for all that she had given to us that day. Then, in a lighthearted manner, I offered feedback on one thing I felt she could change in her teaching style that would have a positive impact on her students. She thanked me profusely, after which I responded, “I would expect the same from you, Jane, should you see an area in which I could improve. After all, we are on the same team.” Who is on your team? If instead of seeing others’ faults, what if you could see the best in them? Instead of criticizing, what if you felt a joyful responsibility to support, inspire, and serve? How could you be helpful to them—and to all those they touch—by speaking your truth with compassion, by offering the benefit of your experience, wisdom and perspective? At a professional event last week, a woman approached me and said, “You may not remember me, but I remember you. I met you at a conference about seven years ago, and you said something that changed my life.” She went on to tell me how she had been complaining about something and I apparently said, ‘I don’t want to engage in that conversation.’ She explained, “You shocked me into realizing that I was spending too much of my time complaining, and not enough time in forward thinking and movement.” After her acknowledgement, she shared with me her many successes in our profession since that time so long ago. I was touched by her story, and by the seemingly transformational impact of my simple, honest statement. Are you willing to change your world by offering support and useful feedback to your teammates? Your family? Your teachers, grocer, hair stylist, elected representatives? Who is on your team? With gratitude,
Your stories are the heartbeat of the positive revolution. Keep them coming! Making a Difference for All the Right Reasons Dan Benavidez served as a member of Vice President Gore’s Regional NAFTA team for Colorado and the Colorado Council on Mexico. For the last eight years he has served as a consultant on Mexican affairs to Tucker International, a worldwide multicultural cross-training company and presently sits on several advisory boards, including Eco-Cycle and Longmont Community Justice Partnership. www.ecocycle.org, www.lcjp.org I guess you could say I accomplished many firsts in my life. I was the first Latino, or person of color, to be invited to a private club in my community and the first Latino elected as Mayor Pro Tem. It was a humble inroad to bridging a huge multicultural rift in the community in which I lived. However, it was not until I read Revolutionary Agreements (for the third time) that I realized many of my motives for succeeding in the predominately white world were not always for the right reasons. Why was I so intense on accomplishing and serving and “getting there”? It hit me, really hit me at the gut level, that I, like anyone else (no matter gender or color), desired acceptance for who I am. Which meant I had to accept me for who I am. There I sat, a grown man, tears streaming down my face thinking, “Who I am is a Mexican-American trying to make a difference, make my people proud, yet pretending to be someone else so I could succeed in the white man’s world.” Well, I made it, but I did not always speak my truth, to myself or to others, and I was living with the differences but not always respecting or understanding them. I was serving on many boards and in every capacity I could, gaining the respect of many, but not necessarily experiencing the pure joy of it. I wanted people to see a Mexican-American who could do it not only bigger and better, but someone who could be a leader in their community. Notice I did not say our community? Now what? As I sat feeling depressed, my eyes drifted down to the last Agreement, Lighten up! I suddenly laughed to myself thinking, “Oh, Marian, your Agreements have brought me full circle.” Rather than chastise myself for what I did not do, I acknowledged myself for all that I have done and was grateful for the ability to choose what I do next. And I choose to have fun working within OUR community, building avenues of better communication and understanding, honoring differences (or uniqueness) and bridging the gap of separateness that keeps us from wholeness. I keep a poster of the Agreements in my office as a reminder of what is available to me every day and when people look at them and ask, “What are those, Dan?” I say, “Well, I am so glad you asked. Got a few minutes?” I admit that I am a “fair weather” person. My favorite season is summer and I have to make a bit of an effort, sometimes more than a bit, to keep myself positive during exceedingly cold and snowy winter months. When I remind myself that this can be a time to reflect and allow a new, as yet unknown, creative spark to germinate slowly within me I feel better. But, oh, I do look forward to spring.
Winter Blues Knee deep in winter’s reign I felt the urge to whine and gripe It is easy to be creative Alone I sat, self pity rose; A woman’s voice, full of warmth Hey, Linda won’t you join with us? Oh humble truth you sting my eyes It took the words of my dear friend My creative juices never cease
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