Interdependence not Dependence, nor Independence

I was looking at some notes I had written down when contemplating this project.  One thing that is very important to me is to empower people to live their best lives.  That really is the crux of the project.  But the truth is, that even in being empowered, it doesn't mean I have to do it alone.  I live my best life when I find the common purpose and share vision and my gifts in collaboration with others.

This project is attracting people who have good hearts, and want to give.  Recently we had someone donate some food items that we couldn't immediately see us using in our after school programming. There was an initial thought that perhaps we could serve a role as a food dispensary.  I was pretty tired at the moment, but it didn't feel right.  It didn't feel as if it fit with our mission.  I realized that we do not want to become simply a place to give things away.  If we are not teaching someone something with our gifts, if we are not empowering them, we are creating dependence.  

Once that part of the vision was clarified again, we came up with half a dozen things we could do with the food.  All of these things inspired creativity, would bring the community together and also would feed our neighborhood while lifting people up.  The point is that the vision is beginning to live not just within me, but within our team of amazing leaders.

Of course we don't want to create dependence.  We want to empower people to be less dependent.  But it is not about being completely independent either.  We want loving community.  We want connection with others.  We want to share our gifts and realize our interdependence.

I have consistently struggled with how do I loosen the reigns.  I don't want to be a dictator.  I want to support the growth of others, and make it less about me and more about what the community members can bring to the table. 

I can see that it is working. I am able to step back, and people can step in and shine their light. This was ever so apparent when during my time visiting my mother in Chicago, the team held a successful community event that even received media coverage.  Thank you team!

In a project like this, it is so important that we allow others to contribute their own personal vision and mission to the energy of the project.  No one has been more influential to bringing clarity to our vision that Kelly Beal and her personal mission to bring more kindness to the world through Keegan's Krew Anti-Bullying Campaign.  It is only through allowing her own passion to come through that a clear direction for our shared vision is being realized at the Community House.  Loving kindness really is the cornerstone for us all.

You can check out the story here.

https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/the-community-house-invites-community-over-for-friends-themed-friendsgiving/