
you ever feel like you’re all alone like like nobody gets you or worse even once
like nobody gets you or worse even once
like nobody gets you or worse even once to get you see I know what that feels
to get you see I know what that feels
to get you see I know what that feels like my freshman year of high school was
like my freshman year of high school was
like my freshman year of high school was a traumatic year for me I was kind of a
a traumatic year for me I was kind of a
a traumatic year for me I was kind of a late bloomer everybody else was taller
late bloomer everybody else was taller
late bloomer everybody else was taller better-looking you know and I just I
better-looking you know and I just I
better-looking you know and I just I didn’t feel like I had any place where I
didn’t feel like I had any place where I
didn’t feel like I had any place where I fit I didn’t feel like I belonged
fit I didn’t feel like I belonged
fit I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere and I had a lot of tears that
anywhere and I had a lot of tears that
anywhere and I had a lot of tears that year became very familiar with
year became very familiar with
year became very familiar with loneliness by my tenth grade year I’d
loneliness by my tenth grade year I’d
loneliness by my tenth grade year I’d gotten my height I grew up I was just
gotten my height I grew up I was just
gotten my height I grew up I was just tall as everybody else they were still
tall as everybody else they were still
tall as everybody else they were still better-looking but you take what you get
better-looking but you take what you get
better-looking but you take what you get you know it’s like you got to work with
you know it’s like you got to work with
you know it’s like you got to work with what you got so you know but I was
what you got so you know but I was
what you got so you know but I was already pretty familiar with this
already pretty familiar with this
already pretty familiar with this concept of loneliness and feeling
concept of loneliness and feeling
concept of loneliness and feeling disconnected and it was quite awhile
disconnected and it was quite awhile
disconnected and it was quite awhile before I started to realize that I
before I started to realize that I
before I started to realize that I wasn’t alone in my loneliness that most
wasn’t alone in my loneliness that most
wasn’t alone in my loneliness that most people experience loneliness at some
people experience loneliness at some
people experience loneliness at some point in time that that feeling of being
point in time that that feeling of being
point in time that that feeling of being disconnected it’s kind of crazy
disconnected it’s kind of crazy
disconnected it’s kind of crazy seven-and-a-half billion of us on this
seven-and-a-half billion of us on this
seven-and-a-half billion of us on this planet and we can feel alone and
planet and we can feel alone and
planet and we can feel alone and disconnected it’s less crazy when you
disconnected it’s less crazy when you
disconnected it’s less crazy when you consider the fact that having community
consider the fact that having community
consider the fact that having community which is the point of this talk having
which is the point of this talk having
which is the point of this talk having community is not about being in
community is not about being in
community is not about being in proximity to others but it’s about
proximity to others but it’s about
proximity to others but it’s about forming deep and meaningful connection
forming deep and meaningful connection
forming deep and meaningful connection with others it’s something that we’re
with others it’s something that we’re
with others it’s something that we’re driven toward we want it in just deep
driven toward we want it in just deep
driven toward we want it in just deep within our soul we see Tom Hanks is so
within our soul we see Tom Hanks is so
within our soul we see Tom Hanks is so desperate for friendship when stranded
desperate for friendship when stranded
desperate for friendship when stranded on an island he decides to make a buddy
on an island he decides to make a buddy
on an island he decides to make a buddy out of a volleyball right calls him
out of a volleyball right calls him
out of a volleyball right calls him Wilson and gets his relationship will
Wilson and gets his relationship will
Wilson and gets his relationship will smith thinks he’s the only guy left
smith thinks he’s the only guy left
smith thinks he’s the only guy left alive in the world and he gets an
alive in the world and he gets an
alive in the world and he gets an intimate relationship with this dog in
intimate relationship with this dog in
intimate relationship with this dog in fact millions of us we have dogs as pets
fact millions of us we have dogs as pets
fact millions of us we have dogs as pets right because we want that unconditional
right because we want that unconditional
right because we want that unconditional love that they get now scientists are
love that they get now scientists are
love that they get now scientists are still baffled as to why people have cats
still baffled as to why people have cats
still baffled as to why people have cats they they assume it’s got something to
they they assume it’s got something to
they they assume it’s got something to do with a need to be disdained every
do with a need to be disdained every
do with a need to be disdained every once in a while but uh I’m just kidding
once in a while but uh I’m just kidding
once in a while but uh I’m just kidding about the cats don’t fill up my box with
about the cats don’t fill up my box with
about the cats don’t fill up my box with hate mail or kiddie videos you know and
hate mail or kiddie videos you know and
hate mail or kiddie videos you know and just I don’t need that stuff but I’m
just I don’t need that stuff but I’m
just I don’t need that stuff but I’m serious about our drive for connection
serious about our drive for connection
serious about our drive for connection for community that we
for community that we
for community that we need to have it in fact the best version
need to have it in fact the best version
need to have it in fact the best version of you cannot be found in isolation it
of you cannot be found in isolation it
of you cannot be found in isolation it can only be found in the context of
can only be found in the context of
can only be found in the context of community let me show you what I mean
community let me show you what I mean
community let me show you what I mean draft horses are the kind of a work fort
draft horses are the kind of a work fort
draft horses are the kind of a work fort they’re their work critter of the firm
they’re their work critter of the firm
they’re their work critter of the firm nor they they are very strong and if you
nor they they are very strong and if you
nor they they are very strong and if you take a good draft course it’s nice and
take a good draft course it’s nice and
take a good draft course it’s nice and healthy he could probably pull about
healthy he could probably pull about
healthy he could probably pull about 8,000 pounds which is impressive in that
8,000 pounds which is impressive in that
8,000 pounds which is impressive in that that’s like four tons he can just pull
that’s like four tons he can just pull
that’s like four tons he can just pull it so we got Billy here pulling the $8
it so we got Billy here pulling the $8
it so we got Billy here pulling the $8 we’re gonna use his brother who also can
we’re gonna use his brother who also can
we’re gonna use his brother who also can pull eight thousand pounds and so
pull eight thousand pounds and so
pull eight thousand pounds and so they’ve got some strong horses so it
they’ve got some strong horses so it
they’ve got some strong horses so it makes sense right we put these horses
makes sense right we put these horses
makes sense right we put these horses together if we were to Yocum so that
together if we were to Yocum so that
together if we were to Yocum so that they’re pulling in the same direction
they’re pulling in the same direction
they’re pulling in the same direction well they ought to be able to pull like
well they ought to be able to pull like
well they ought to be able to pull like 16,000 pounds right that just makes
16,000 pounds right that just makes
16,000 pounds right that just makes sense because it but they don’t instead
sense because it but they don’t instead
sense because it but they don’t instead what they do is they pull 24,000 pounds
what they do is they pull 24,000 pounds
what they do is they pull 24,000 pounds each of them contributes 50% more than
each of them contributes 50% more than
each of them contributes 50% more than what they were able to do on their own
what they were able to do on their own
what they were able to do on their own and that’s the power of community is
and that’s the power of community is
and that’s the power of community is that there’s something about the synergy
that there’s something about the synergy
that there’s something about the synergy that happens when we connect together in
that happens when we connect together in
that happens when we connect together in teams that we are able to do more
teams that we are able to do more
teams that we are able to do more connected than we are able to do alone
connected than we are able to do alone
connected than we are able to do alone and we know that that two heads are
and we know that that two heads are
and we know that that two heads are better than one right we’ve got that
better than one right we’ve got that
better than one right we’ve got that expression but we don’t think about is
expression but we don’t think about is
expression but we don’t think about is one head is better than one when it’s in
one head is better than one when it’s in
one head is better than one when it’s in the context of community so that’s what
the context of community so that’s what
the context of community so that’s what that’s what we see going on here and in
that’s what we see going on here and in
that’s what we see going on here and in fact that it’s so powerful it’s so
fact that it’s so powerful it’s so
fact that it’s so powerful it’s so important and I want to take this talk
important and I want to take this talk
important and I want to take this talk to explain to you how you can have
to explain to you how you can have
to explain to you how you can have community that makes you more of who you
community that makes you more of who you
community that makes you more of who you already are but to do that I first got
already are but to do that I first got
already are but to do that I first got to explain to you what I mean by
to explain to you what I mean by
to explain to you what I mean by community because when I’m talking about
community because when I’m talking about
community because when I’m talking about community I’m talking about a dynamic
community I’m talking about a dynamic
community I’m talking about a dynamic group of individuals who have a shared
group of individuals who have a shared
group of individuals who have a shared purpose a shared fate and a shared
purpose a shared fate and a shared
purpose a shared fate and a shared affection now the purpose is usually
affection now the purpose is usually
affection now the purpose is usually what is the initial thing that brings a
what is the initial thing that brings a
what is the initial thing that brings a community together there’s an ideal a
community together there’s an ideal a
community together there’s an ideal a plan something that we’re going to move
plan something that we’re going to move
plan something that we’re going to move toward it’s going to be that we’re going
toward it’s going to be that we’re going
toward it’s going to be that we’re going to have education that is empowering
to have education that is empowering
to have education that is empowering that’s moving us along we’re going to
that’s moving us along we’re going to
that’s moving us along we’re going to have leadership that’s meaningful and
have leadership that’s meaningful and
have leadership that’s meaningful and significant we have this idea and then
significant we have this idea and then
significant we have this idea and then we get other people that are
we get other people that are
we get other people that are had that shared that idea that purpose
had that shared that idea that purpose
had that shared that idea that purpose it’s bigger than us it’s more than us
it’s bigger than us it’s more than us
it’s bigger than us it’s more than us and we get together and as we work
and we get together and as we work
and we get together and as we work toward that we end up sharing a fate
toward that we end up sharing a fate
toward that we end up sharing a fate because we’re committed to that point
because we’re committed to that point
because we’re committed to that point and if it doesn’t happen we’re all
and if it doesn’t happen we’re all
and if it doesn’t happen we’re all losers and when it does happen we’re all
losers and when it does happen we’re all
losers and when it does happen we’re all winners we see that we just were hearing
winners we see that we just were hearing
winners we see that we just were hearing about the election that we’re we’re
about the election that we’re we’re
about the election that we’re we’re sharing a faith in this room and so in a
sharing a faith in this room and so in a
sharing a faith in this room and so in a sense we’re all looking towards one
sense we’re all looking towards one
sense we’re all looking towards one thing but what really sets apart
thing but what really sets apart
thing but what really sets apart communities from just being a group is
communities from just being a group is
communities from just being a group is the affection is the love that grows
the affection is the love that grows
the affection is the love that grows between people that connection that
between people that connection that
between people that connection that allows us to not just be after this
allows us to not just be after this
allows us to not just be after this purpose like if you’re getting together
purpose like if you’re getting together
purpose like if you’re getting together and your purpose is to build a
and your purpose is to build a
and your purpose is to build a playground at the end of the road and
playground at the end of the road and
playground at the end of the road and you get to other neighbors and they say
you get to other neighbors and they say
you get to other neighbors and they say hey we want to do this too and they’re
hey we want to do this too and they’re
hey we want to do this too and they’re going to share that because either we’re
going to share that because either we’re
going to share that because either we’re gonna get that playground made or our
gonna get that playground made or our
gonna get that playground made or our kids are going to drive us crazy at home
kids are going to drive us crazy at home
kids are going to drive us crazy at home we share a fate here but then you get
we share a fate here but then you get
we share a fate here but then you get the playground made and now suddenly
the playground made and now suddenly
the playground made and now suddenly you’re having dinner with Bob and Sally
you’re having dinner with Bob and Sally
you’re having dinner with Bob and Sally next door who you didn’t know before the
next door who you didn’t know before the
next door who you didn’t know before the playground but affection has grown and
playground but affection has grown and
playground but affection has grown and you start to build a community because
you start to build a community because
you start to build a community because now that we’ve done the playground well
now that we’ve done the playground well
now that we’ve done the playground well let’s see what else we can do to improve
let’s see what else we can do to improve
let’s see what else we can do to improve our community so the purpose is still
our community so the purpose is still
our community so the purpose is still there but now there’s a new thing
there but now there’s a new thing
there but now there’s a new thing happening of community where we’re
happening of community where we’re
happening of community where we’re pulled together to understand this
pulled together to understand this
pulled together to understand this better I want us to look at murmuration
better I want us to look at murmuration
better I want us to look at murmuration if you’re not familiar with that term a
if you’re not familiar with that term a
if you’re not familiar with that term a murmuration is what starlings do when
murmuration is what starlings do when
murmuration is what starlings do when they get together but we’re gonna try to
they get together but we’re gonna try to
they get together but we’re gonna try to have you look at that because these are
have you look at that because these are
have you look at that because these are murmuration the European starlings they
murmuration the European starlings they
murmuration the European starlings they flow form these beautiful things and as
flow form these beautiful things and as
flow form these beautiful things and as you can see it’s just it’s just a wonder
you can see it’s just it’s just a wonder
you can see it’s just it’s just a wonder to behold and it’s just a beautiful
to behold and it’s just a beautiful
to behold and it’s just a beautiful thing to watch them so much so that
thing to watch them so much so that
thing to watch them so much so that scientists from virtually every branch
scientists from virtually every branch
scientists from virtually every branch of science has come to study these
of science has come to study these
of science has come to study these murmuration and say why do starlings do
murmuration and say why do starlings do
murmuration and say why do starlings do this why do they form of things and how
this why do they form of things and how
this why do they form of things and how do they do this well as they’re trying
do they do this well as they’re trying
do they do this well as they’re trying to understand that they look at the how
to understand that they look at the how
to understand that they look at the how and one of the things they study is
and one of the things they study is
and one of the things they study is reaction time see the average person has
reaction time see the average person has
reaction time see the average person has a reaction time of about 270
a reaction time of about 270
a reaction time of about 270 milliseconds which is pretty quick it’s
milliseconds which is pretty quick it’s
milliseconds which is pretty quick it’s just over a quarter of a second it’s not
just over a quarter of a second it’s not
just over a quarter of a second it’s not too bad
too bad
too bad the average Starling when put into a
the average Starling when put into a
the average Starling when put into a laboratory and studied for its reaction
laboratory and studied for its reaction
laboratory and studied for its reaction time is about 76 milliseconds that’s
time is about 76 milliseconds that’s
time is about 76 milliseconds that’s pretty fast and we can see with that
pretty fast and we can see with that
pretty fast and we can see with that difference how quickly and it’s
difference how quickly and it’s
difference how quickly and it’s necessary because when they’re flying so
necessary because when they’re flying so
necessary because when they’re flying so close together that they have to make
close together that they have to make
close together that they have to make sure that they can they can react very
sure that they can they can react very
sure that they can they can react very quickly because the communication
quickly because the communication
quickly because the communication necessary to form these things how they
necessary to form these things how they
necessary to form these things how they they move it as though it’s one object
they move it as though it’s one object
they move it as though it’s one object they’re in the air and yet there could
they’re in the air and yet there could
they’re in the air and yet there could be thousands even a million birds that
be thousands even a million birds that
be thousands even a million birds that will be together in a flock so how do
will be together in a flock so how do
will be together in a flock so how do they communicate across such a large
they communicate across such a large
they communicate across such a large thing to make these beautiful things
thing to make these beautiful things
thing to make these beautiful things well they don’t they don’t watch the
well they don’t they don’t watch the
well they don’t they don’t watch the whole thing what they do is they pay
whole thing what they do is they pay
whole thing what they do is they pay attention to the seven birds that are
attention to the seven birds that are
attention to the seven birds that are the closest to them which is a
the closest to them which is a
the closest to them which is a fascinating thing because we’ve got now
fascinating thing because we’ve got now
fascinating thing because we’ve got now the modern photography the ways that
the modern photography the ways that
the modern photography the ways that they can do this so they can study the
they can do this so they can study the
they can do this so they can study the birds while flying and they also find
birds while flying and they also find
birds while flying and they also find out not unlike our draft horses reaction
out not unlike our draft horses reaction
out not unlike our draft horses reaction time gets quicker it gets down to about
time gets quicker it gets down to about
time gets quicker it gets down to about a hundredth of a second ten milliseconds
a hundredth of a second ten milliseconds
a hundredth of a second ten milliseconds so they’re faster more reactive when
so they’re faster more reactive when
so they’re faster more reactive when they’re flying together than when
they’re flying together than when
they’re flying together than when they’re in the laboratory being studied
they’re in the laboratory being studied
they’re in the laboratory being studied they form these beautiful formations
they form these beautiful formations
they form these beautiful formations because they are able to watch just the
because they are able to watch just the
because they are able to watch just the seven right around them and those seven
seven right around them and those seven
seven right around them and those seven just like in this room the tables are
just like in this room the tables are
just like in this room the tables are all set up with seven things at each
all set up with seven things at each
all set up with seven things at each table I have marveled that when I came
table I have marveled that when I came
table I have marveled that when I came in but if you looked at the seven that
in but if you looked at the seven that
in but if you looked at the seven that are closest to you the seven that are
are closest to you the seven that are
are closest to you the seven that are closer to the person next you might be a
closer to the person next you might be a
closer to the person next you might be a different seven there’ll be some overlap
different seven there’ll be some overlap
different seven there’ll be some overlap but it covers the entire flock so that’s
but it covers the entire flock so that’s
but it covers the entire flock so that’s my flock here today you’d all be covered
my flock here today you’d all be covered
my flock here today you’d all be covered in groups of seven and with reaction
in groups of seven and with reaction
in groups of seven and with reaction time at at a hundredth of a second
time at at a hundredth of a second
time at at a hundredth of a second they’re able to move together and make
they’re able to move together and make
they’re able to move together and make beautiful things out of a murmuration so
beautiful things out of a murmuration so
beautiful things out of a murmuration so they have the shared purpose but we
they have the shared purpose but we
they have the shared purpose but we looked at why do they do this the
looked at why do they do this the
looked at why do they do this the assumption that the scientists have now
assumption that the scientists have now
assumption that the scientists have now you talk to a bird watcher they’re
you talk to a bird watcher they’re
you talk to a bird watcher they’re saying they do it for the sheer joy of
saying they do it for the sheer joy of
saying they do it for the sheer joy of it because if you listen to them it’s
it because if you listen to them it’s
it because if you listen to them it’s noisy and they have a lot of talking
noisy and they have a lot of talking
noisy and they have a lot of talking going on but scientists will tell us
going on but scientists will tell us
going on but scientists will tell us they do this for safety because it
they do this for safety because it
they do this for safety because it confuses predators it keeps them
confuses predators it keeps them
confuses predators it keeps them together and they’re able to react as a
together and they’re able to react as a
together and they’re able to react as a group instead of as an individual which
group instead of as an individual which
group instead of as an individual which keeps them safer so they have a shared
keeps them safer so they have a shared
keeps them safer so they have a shared purpose and of course they’ve got a
purpose and of course they’ve got a
purpose and of course they’ve got a shared fate
shared fate
shared fate because it’s life or death for them
because it’s life or death for them
because it’s life or death for them because once that predator picks you off
because once that predator picks you off
because once that predator picks you off your fate is finished and they
your fate is finished and they
your fate is finished and they understand that we are all in this
understand that we are all in this
understand that we are all in this together every one of us is vulnerable
together every one of us is vulnerable
together every one of us is vulnerable we don’t know a whole lot about the
we don’t know a whole lot about the
we don’t know a whole lot about the affection of starlings that’s not
affection of starlings that’s not
affection of starlings that’s not something we’ve really studied but
something we’ve really studied but
something we’ve really studied but there’s an awful lot of them so we
there’s an awful lot of them so we
there’s an awful lot of them so we figure somebody’s getting busy so we
figure somebody’s getting busy so we
figure somebody’s getting busy so we don’t really know what’s going on there
don’t really know what’s going on there
don’t really know what’s going on there but there there’s a lot of the birds
but there there’s a lot of the birds
but there there’s a lot of the birds there so there’s some affection happen
there so there’s some affection happen
there so there’s some affection happen in some place all right and then so we
in some place all right and then so we
in some place all right and then so we have we had that going on what we do
have we had that going on what we do
have we had that going on what we do know is that they’re not around the same
know is that they’re not around the same
know is that they’re not around the same seven the entire time they’re flying
seven the entire time they’re flying
seven the entire time they’re flying it’s dynamic it changes they move
it’s dynamic it changes they move
it’s dynamic it changes they move throughout it because they get on the
throughout it because they get on the
throughout it because they get on the edge where it’s more dangerous and they
edge where it’s more dangerous and they
edge where it’s more dangerous and they move to the middle where it’s safer and
move to the middle where it’s safer and
move to the middle where it’s safer and everybody takes a turn because they’re
everybody takes a turn because they’re
everybody takes a turn because they’re all in it together so well Starling
all in it together so well Starling
all in it together so well Starling doesn’t fly up through the branches and
doesn’t fly up through the branches and
doesn’t fly up through the branches and say to the other starlings that other
say to the other starlings that other
say to the other starlings that other hey you guys the word is there’s about
hey you guys the word is there’s about
hey you guys the word is there’s about to be a murmuration in five minutes why
to be a murmuration in five minutes why
to be a murmuration in five minutes why don’t the seven of you stay right around
don’t the seven of you stay right around
don’t the seven of you stay right around me and whilst that will fly together the
me and whilst that will fly together the
me and whilst that will fly together the whole time we’ll stay as a bunch and
whole time we’ll stay as a bunch and
whole time we’ll stay as a bunch and there’ll be a lot more fun that way
there’ll be a lot more fun that way
there’ll be a lot more fun that way see that’s not community that’s a clique
see that’s not community that’s a clique
see that’s not community that’s a clique that decides that the safety of the
that decides that the safety of the
that decides that the safety of the group and that purpose isn’t important
group and that purpose isn’t important
group and that purpose isn’t important because cliques destroy purpose they
because cliques destroy purpose they
because cliques destroy purpose they destroy affection and so it focuses then
destroy affection and so it focuses then
destroy affection and so it focuses then in on about me what about me and that’s
in on about me what about me and that’s
in on about me what about me and that’s not community you don’t get community
not community you don’t get community
not community you don’t get community focused in community only happens when
focused in community only happens when
focused in community only happens when you focus out so that’s one of the
you focus out so that’s one of the
you focus out so that’s one of the things that we look at but to understand
things that we look at but to understand
things that we look at but to understand how this works
how this works
how this works a little bit more to give you some other
a little bit more to give you some other
a little bit more to give you some other ideas I want us to look at it from a
ideas I want us to look at it from a
ideas I want us to look at it from a perspective of a salad there we are
perspective of a salad there we are
perspective of a salad there we are because if you have a tossed salad you
because if you have a tossed salad you
because if you have a tossed salad you know I like salad I think that that’s a
know I like salad I think that that’s a
know I like salad I think that that’s a great thing to do you forget about the
great thing to do you forget about the
great thing to do you forget about the iceberg you know you get some romaine or
iceberg you know you get some romaine or
iceberg you know you get some romaine or maybe maybe a little bit of kale all the
maybe maybe a little bit of kale all the
maybe maybe a little bit of kale all the cool kids are eating kale today so let’s
cool kids are eating kale today so let’s
cool kids are eating kale today so let’s get some kale in there since you know
get some kale in there since you know
get some kale in there since you know cut up some tomatoes cucumbers got to
cut up some tomatoes cucumbers got to
cut up some tomatoes cucumbers got to have some onions in there sliced nice
have some onions in there sliced nice
have some onions in there sliced nice and thin to go on there maybe some
and thin to go on there maybe some
and thin to go on there maybe some olives make sure they’re kalamata those
olives make sure they’re kalamata those
olives make sure they’re kalamata those are the best
are the best
are the best and you get them out medgen getting your
and you get them out medgen getting your
and you get them out medgen getting your salad already and you got all the bowls
salad already and you got all the bowls
salad already and you got all the bowls with all your ingredients and you’re
with all your ingredients and you’re
with all your ingredients and you’re getting ready for yourself and you sit
getting ready for yourself and you sit
getting ready for yourself and you sit down and you eat your bowl of onions and
down and you eat your bowl of onions and
down and you eat your bowl of onions and you eat your bowl of peppers that would
you eat your bowl of peppers that would
you eat your bowl of peppers that would just be kind of weird wouldn’t it it
just be kind of weird wouldn’t it it
just be kind of weird wouldn’t it it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense I mean
doesn’t make a whole lot of sense I mean
doesn’t make a whole lot of sense I mean it might taste okay especially if you
it might taste okay especially if you
it might taste okay especially if you like those ingredients but it’s not
like those ingredients but it’s not
like those ingredients but it’s not really a salad see that the vegetables
really a salad see that the vegetables
really a salad see that the vegetables have failed to meet their potential
have failed to meet their potential
have failed to meet their potential because they’ve remained isolated and we
because they’ve remained isolated and we
because they’ve remained isolated and we do this when we try to make community
do this when we try to make community
do this when we try to make community and keep segregated see this is this is
and keep segregated see this is this is
and keep segregated see this is this is the kind of community that is plagued by
the kind of community that is plagued by
the kind of community that is plagued by the isms the sexism the racism the
the isms the sexism the racism the
the isms the sexism the racism the classism where the whole focus is on who
classism where the whole focus is on who
classism where the whole focus is on who do we keep out how do we keep ourselves
do we keep out how do we keep ourselves
do we keep out how do we keep ourselves separate and secure it’s not about the
separate and secure it’s not about the
separate and secure it’s not about the blending but it’s about the separation
blending but it’s about the separation
blending but it’s about the separation and community does not happen well like
and community does not happen well like
and community does not happen well like them so we get those selling we know
them so we get those selling we know
them so we get those selling we know that’s not how you make a salad we take
that’s not how you make a salad we take
that’s not how you make a salad we take all those bowls we dump them together
all those bowls we dump them together
all those bowls we dump them together into one big bowl and we toss it up and
into one big bowl and we toss it up and
into one big bowl and we toss it up and we look at all those veggies kind of
we look at all those veggies kind of
we look at all those veggies kind of snuggling with each other and making a
snuggling with each other and making a
snuggling with each other and making a beautiful salad and then we reach over
beautiful salad and then we reach over
beautiful salad and then we reach over grab ranch dressing and just start
grab ranch dressing and just start
grab ranch dressing and just start pouring it on you know
pouring it on you know
pouring it on you know and now our kalamata olives they taste
and now our kalamata olives they taste
and now our kalamata olives they taste like ranch dressing you know and that
like ranch dressing you know and that
like ranch dressing you know and that healthy kale tastes like ranch dressing
healthy kale tastes like ranch dressing
healthy kale tastes like ranch dressing and those tomatoes taste like ranch
and those tomatoes taste like ranch
and those tomatoes taste like ranch dressing right and we see this we see
dressing right and we see this we see
dressing right and we see this we see this a lot as we try to form community
this a lot as we try to form community
this a lot as we try to form community and we see this in institutions largely
and we see this in institutions largely
and we see this in institutions largely right what happens if you go to the
right what happens if you go to the
right what happens if you go to the military we’re gonna cut all your hair
military we’re gonna cut all your hair
military we’re gonna cut all your hair off we’re going to tell you when to
off we’re going to tell you when to
off we’re going to tell you when to stand sit get dressed and how and we
stand sit get dressed and how and we
stand sit get dressed and how and we want uniformity we don’t want
want uniformity we don’t want
want uniformity we don’t want individualism what happens if we want to
individualism what happens if we want to
individualism what happens if we want to go to school you’re gonna sit in your
go to school you’re gonna sit in your
go to school you’re gonna sit in your seat you’re gonna pay attention what
seat you’re gonna pay attention what
seat you’re gonna pay attention what happens we go to church right what we
happens we go to church right what we
happens we go to church right what we start to do these things where we make
start to do these things where we make
start to do these things where we make it that the individual is not really
it that the individual is not really
it that the individual is not really valued the institution is what is
valued the institution is what is
valued the institution is what is important that the community doesn’t
important that the community doesn’t
important that the community doesn’t really need you but you’re going to be a
really need you but you’re going to be a
really need you but you’re going to be a part of this and you’re all welcome you
part of this and you’re all welcome you
part of this and you’re all welcome you can all jump in the bowl but once you’re
can all jump in the bowl but once you’re
can all jump in the bowl but once you’re in the bowl we’re gonna cover you with
in the bowl we’re gonna cover you with
in the bowl we’re gonna cover you with Riaan stressing to make sure that you’re
Riaan stressing to make sure that you’re
Riaan stressing to make sure that you’re just like everybody else you know you
just like everybody else you know you
just like everybody else you know you can’t be unique you can’t be different
can’t be unique you can’t be different
can’t be unique you can’t be different you’re gonna be just like everybody else
you’re gonna be just like everybody else
you’re gonna be just like everybody else well that’s not really a good way to eat
well that’s not really a good way to eat
well that’s not really a good way to eat a salad
a salad
a salad plus the nutritionist tell us that’s not
plus the nutritionist tell us that’s not
plus the nutritionist tell us that’s not even healthy so what we do is we get all
even healthy so what we do is we get all
even healthy so what we do is we get all those ingredients together we put them
those ingredients together we put them
those ingredients together we put them in a bowl we toss them and we did a
in a bowl we toss them and we did a
in a bowl we toss them and we did a little salt and pepper because we want
little salt and pepper because we want
little salt and pepper because we want to season it a little bit and then we
to season it a little bit and then we
to season it a little bit and then we take a little oil a little vinegar put
take a little oil a little vinegar put
take a little oil a little vinegar put it on there something that’s going to
it on there something that’s going to
it on there something that’s going to accentuate the individual flavors we
accentuate the individual flavors we
accentuate the individual flavors we toss it together and now the flavors
toss it together and now the flavors
toss it together and now the flavors react to each other they play off one
react to each other they play off one
react to each other they play off one another and so the individual
another and so the individual
another and so the individual contributions of each vegetable are
contributions of each vegetable are
contributions of each vegetable are accentuated they’re separated and made
accentuated they’re separated and made
accentuated they’re separated and made to bring to their fullest without taking
to bring to their fullest without taking
to bring to their fullest without taking away from the overall salad experience
away from the overall salad experience
away from the overall salad experience and so we we don’t throw something like
and so we we don’t throw something like
and so we we don’t throw something like a ton of ranch dressing on because it
a ton of ranch dressing on because it
a ton of ranch dressing on because it takes away from salad and the
takes away from salad and the
takes away from salad and the individualists the liveliness of all
individualists the liveliness of all
individualists the liveliness of all those individual flavors and see when
those individual flavors and see when
those individual flavors and see when you’re having good community you’re
you’re having good community you’re
you’re having good community you’re going to have something that brings in
going to have something that brings in
going to have something that brings in all the differences and still maintains
all the differences and still maintains
all the differences and still maintains a purpose and still has a focus and an
a purpose and still has a focus and an
a purpose and still has a focus and an affection that grows see I have a
affection that grows see I have a
affection that grows see I have a community that I’m a part of and we
community that I’m a part of and we
community that I’m a part of and we decided that that community is something
decided that that community is something
decided that that community is something it’s way too good to be kept it to
it’s way too good to be kept it to
it’s way too good to be kept it to itself that’s the nature of community
itself that’s the nature of community
itself that’s the nature of community you want to share it and so what we do
you want to share it and so what we do
you want to share it and so what we do is we would have we bought a coffee shop
is we would have we bought a coffee shop
is we would have we bought a coffee shop downtown Mainstreet new work and we have
downtown Mainstreet new work and we have
downtown Mainstreet new work and we have it the whole point is I don’t you know
it the whole point is I don’t you know
it the whole point is I don’t you know I’m not a coffee drinker but we have it
I’m not a coffee drinker but we have it
I’m not a coffee drinker but we have it so we can have community and it doesn’t
so we can have community and it doesn’t
so we can have community and it doesn’t take much you can make community right
take much you can make community right
take much you can make community right where you are just a few points you
where you are just a few points you
where you are just a few points you don’t have to have advanced degrees or
don’t have to have advanced degrees or
don’t have to have advanced degrees or anything like that you can develop it on
anything like that you can develop it on
anything like that you can develop it on your own because first off you got to
your own because first off you got to
your own because first off you got to focus something on bigger than yourself
focus something on bigger than yourself
focus something on bigger than yourself if you’re focusing on yourself you’re
if you’re focusing on yourself you’re
if you’re focusing on yourself you’re not going to have community you’re going
not going to have community you’re going
not going to have community you’re going to have a clique and it’s always going
to have a clique and it’s always going
to have a clique and it’s always going to be bad even the people in the clique
to be bad even the people in the clique
to be bad even the people in the clique end up with a tough time you invite
end up with a tough time you invite
end up with a tough time you invite others to share your vision and you
others to share your vision and you
others to share your vision and you accept whoever comes always have an open
accept whoever comes always have an open
accept whoever comes always have an open seat don’t get the points or word get
seat don’t get the points or word get
seat don’t get the points or word get enough let’s close it down you know the
enough let’s close it down you know the
enough let’s close it down you know the best part of the group may not even join
best part of the group may not even join
best part of the group may not even join jet and so you want to have an open seat
jet and so you want to have an open seat
jet and so you want to have an open seat that’s always available you celebrate
that’s always available you celebrate
that’s always available you celebrate the differences that don’t hamper the
the differences that don’t hamper the
the differences that don’t hamper the purpose because there’s unique
purpose because there’s unique
purpose because there’s unique contributions that everyone can
contributions that everyone can
contributions that everyone can bring and as you do this you just watch
bring and as you do this you just watch
bring and as you do this you just watch as the affection grows as you pull
as the affection grows as you pull
as the affection grows as you pull together in one direction it’ll change
together in one direction it’ll change
together in one direction it’ll change your life
”
Be First to Comment