Edges
Started and stopped a few times during my afternoon walks from July 5th-10th.
I thought writing this would be easy. But try as I might, I could not find a way in. I started with the etymology of the word, as I find the origin of words can be useful. But the definitions only constrained my thinking and creativity.
I switched approaches. Rather than words, I sought visual metaphors that might reveal a path forward. Suddenly the image of an infinity pool appeared. Every time I tried to start the piece again, that image came to mind and I just couldn’t figure out why.
An infinity pool reflecting the vastness of the sky—offering a barrier free perspective of the horizon and a seemingly endless supply of water, (a source of energy inviting calmness and connection) clear, clean and in a continuous flow.
And then, in one of my morning text exchanges, I realized that what appeals to me about an infinity pool is the lack of edges. This led to the following questions/reflections:
what practices are necessary to stay on the edges when every fiber of your being craves multiplicities, complexity and abundance and only sees possibilities?
how do you do that in this body during a time when there are deeply rooted, sophisticated and relentless efforts to deem me valueless, even though how I am and what I offer seems coveted by others?
and with that as part of the truth of my experience, how do I stay on the edges so that others might join in and dive together into a future filled with love, reciprocity, thriving, healing, equity, justice and liberation?
I have no answers, but if you know me you know that is fine by me. It is the spirit and intention of the inquiry that fascinates and feeds me.
Completed July 14, 2021
Related Threads:
About The Author:
Jara Dean-Coffey (jdc) is Founder and Director of the Equitable Evaluation Initiative and the Founder of Luminare Group. For the past twenty-five years, she has partnered with clients and colleagues to elevate their collective understanding of the relationship between values, context, strategy and evaluation and shifting our practices so that they are more fully in service of equity. For more about musings + machinations click here.
