Stepping into flow

I’m preparing to teach at an Art of Hosting gathering in Nova Scotia in a few weeks and as part of the conversations on design, we have been talking a little about what is required in order to confidently step into chaotic and unknown spaces.

This morning, my friend and other co-host Toke Paludan Moeller sent a short poem from an Aikido master that sums it up nicely:

When you step up,
claim the mat as your own.
Everybody you encounter
and everything that happens
is there by your invitation
and your invitation alone,
even the unexpected ones.

Your job is to respond with
grace and compassion.
You can’t hide and you can’t fake it;
we will all see.

Let the skills you have learned
and the wisdom of this art
flow through you
and all will be well.

[tags] aikido, art of hosting[/tags]