Reflections from our Jan 29th Dinner
Reflections from our Jan 29th Dinner
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
We asked. And here is the feedback that people provided...
What brought you here?
•Definitely the people
•A deep feeling that we need more of this
•A need for spiritual community
•A desire to share thoughts, feelings, food and positive energy with people who care about the world and want to make it better. A desire to connect with others
•The theme: spirituality and social change
•Desire for social change, connection with a community that shares this value
•Curiosity
•Long time work and interest in connecting social justice and spirituality
•Description of the event – to gather with people who, like me, long to be part of a spiritual community seeking change
•A desire to connect with more social justice/spiritual types made me go!
What were your favorite aspects of the evening?
•I loved Claudia’s beautiful words. I loved connecting with communities outside of the climate movement – it feds me to be part of new communities
•Discussion at the tables, and the bright young faces
•Sitting and listening to people of my parents’ and grandparents’ generation
•The singing, the food, the dialogue
•Connecting with folks who I know from different places/phases of my life
•The kid-zone – great for them/parents to feel comfortable
•Time for group reflection
•Conversation – quality and depth of connection. Claudia was also a delight.
•Listening while each member of my table introduced themselves and their passions and projects
•Meeting people I otherwise never would
•What a room of people! Loved having kids here (though we could lose the scooters). Small group time. Closing song.
•Meeting old colleagues/friends in movements for social change AND meeting so many YOUNG PEOPLE!
•Loved having a specific question to dialogue about
What would you add/change/do differently?
•Perhaps the venue needs to be re-considered due to noise
•More time for conversation
•A microphone
•Different space and/or neighbours
•More singing
•More mix + mingle exercises
•More focused reflection questions
•Acknowledge the presence of children and their importance in this community for change (just so people don’t resent their sound-making, etc)
•Make it an hour longer so we can really dig into more sharing together
•I loved it – but not enough time for my whole table to introduce themselves
•Unfortunately I think the noise next door is a problem (and it sets an odd tone)
How would you describe this evening to others?
•A positive gathering of like-minded + committed people
•A gathering of spiritual people who care about the future – kinda like church, but without the religion part
•Stimulating, fun, delicious
•A potential for something great
•Enthusiastically. As a place to connect spiritually, across traditions, and with others who long for spirited social change
•An intergenerational gathering with hope
•A start
•Desire to find a way to better use my capacities to help contribute to the big social change that is about to happen
•A gathering of social change makers interested in creating a community that considers spirit as part of what makes us go forward
•A Fantastic gathering of gentle authentic people – connecting with each other, sharing stories and listening with kind attention. Lovely tasty food, full-bellied songs and genuine smiles all around
•Rejuvinating conversation, a group of open hearts
•Casual but friendly + soul nurturing, food + conversation
•The beginning of the creation of a community and process that supports dialogue and collective action
•Open, warm, creative, supportive
•A gathering of people interested in social change and interested in community building and connection on a human level
•It has a lovely family feel to it
What are you taking home with you?
•A more relaxed body
•I walked in wanting to cry, and walked out knowing what I need to address in my life
•Great things to think about
•That I am one small important piece of a great and beautiful whole, and I make a difference
•Sparks of ideas + curiosity of more or how to be involved
•A sense of our interconnectedness
•Taking small steps is still moving forward even though you might not see huge, immediate change
•I am not alone!
•That we are co-dependent and worthwhile
•A full belly, some food for thought, new ideas, hope
•Joy, hope, anticipation of what might evolve… a renewed community/new broader community of spiritually aware activists
•Warmth and hope; gladness
•Good group reflection and renewed sense of community
•A good feeling that I’m not alone, more connections and looking forward to the next one
•Inspired that there are so many caring people passionate about good causes
Do you have any specific feedback about the location, the date/time, the food, or the music?
•Continue with key-note speakers
•Time is great, Sunday is good
•Great location, nice music, awesome food, great topic to begin
•The spirited neighbours were a tad loud and distracting
•The sermon next door was too loud
•Cookies?
•It could be longer, and somewhere without the background noise
•Great food and music
•The location was greatly accessible, but the acoustics were difficult.
•Great location for people like me travelling in on the #1 Hwy
•I really loved this idea. Do it again!