I’ve been pondering – “how big is a place?” .

In the work I do, it’s often a town centre or mainstreet and sometimes a whole suburb or town.  I reckon though it can be much smaller and bigger.

A ‘place’ I think can start in the heart

How I feel on the inside, my sense of self and my connection to people and the places I frequent.  I really believe in doing the internal work to get to know yourself – who you are warts and all!  The life journey for me is about becoming my own best friend and then challenging myself to grow.  The more I do, the more comfortable I become with myself, how I relate to others and being authentic in my work as a facilitator and place maker.  You can’t ignore the self and how it impacts on how we move into and out of our daily life and spaces.

On the other hand, I think a ‘place’ can be huge!  the World, Australia, Western Australia, Perth – the Universe…

I like to think of myself as a ‘global citizen’ a ‘world explorer’ and I do feel connected to those I know around the world and to those I haven’t even met.  The link between my personal self and the rest of the world impacts on how I walk my daily life whether with those I love, my neighbourhood, at work or in the public places I spend time in.  It’s at the end of the day about ‘respect’ for all that is beautiful – other people, our environment and the interesting social spaces we create that bring meaning, joy and sometimes pain into our lives.

I love the Hindu greeting ‘namaste’ – it has a number of meanings including “I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of love, integrity of wisdom and peace.  When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One”.   In simple terms it can be a form of ‘welcome’ or even ‘gidday’ and is usually said with the head bowed and palms to forehead.  I often whisper it when I see a stranger or even a living thing that isn’t travelling so well.  I’d like to say it to you too…

NAMASTE!