Bit by bit, clarity and progress

Got completely soaked yesterday on the way home from Tuesday Market, and the rain didn't let up until long after I had unloaded the wet stuff into the shop and changed clothes. I didn't totally mind it, as it wasn't really cold and added interest to the process. Plus it gave me an excuse to take it easy for the rest of the evening, as I had expended some major energy.

Tuesday Market is building. Aaron moved his food cart to the east side of the plaza, and next week Deb and I are committing to moving over there in the hope of starting a circle of booths that will create a more cohesive event instead of a scattering of individuals looking over across the street hoping for some scraps of attention.

We need more booths to really create a destination, and it definitely affected us to move away from the produce, but we are feeling that it was the best decision, to occupy the east block, and by mid-summer we will have a warm, interesting event happening, with entertainment, lots of food choices, and exciting, attractive crafts.

My income went up ever-so-slightly and other people seemed to do a bit better than last week. Once the tourism really starts, we'll be ready. I still have the only (and best) canvas tote bags, which are needed by the food shoppers, and both sun and rain encourage hat sales. I probably ought to minimize the table space for my curious and seductive Jell-Oh Art flowers, and bring more shirts. I have plenty of shirts to bring, all of the kids line and women's shirts that I no longer want to sell on Saturdays. They're still good, just don't fit in my space or on my trailer.

In other news, I sat in, taking minutes, on an OCF committee that really had great process and that encouraged me quite a bit about my involvement in the Fair and how things work in that world. It's always my interest to study and reduce the us vs. them energy that comes when segments of populations don't see or understand other segments.

It's usually an illusion based on some unmet needs or unheard perspectives, and it's usually built into the history and process of any kind of organization. My tactic of late has been to insert myself into the arenas where I feel unseen, and give "them" a chance to see me and see that I am rational and trustworthy, and may even have something constructive to offer.

Of course it is usual for both "sides" to see themselves as the misunderstood parties, and in most cases intentions are good and listening skills really advance the understanding. In letting go of my efforts to hear the farmers and attempt to allow them to hear those across the street, I have seen that my position in the middle had become not only ineffective but a stumbling block to the natural progress of the issues. My perception is that it is flowing naturally without me and I am so happy to have lost the associated stress.

On Tuesdays I am looking forward to positioning myself with my back to the street so I focus on things that are not frustrating and emotionally draining. The less attachment I have to what is going on with the farmers, the more I like them and the more easily I can interact with the Tuesday sellers, who are generally just vendors and artisans like me who just want to make and sell their products in peace.

With OCF, I don't have any personal issues I want to advance, just want to do my little part to solidify the organizational knowledge base and help people make fully informed and thoughtful decisions. I have found that working small on the committee level is the best way for an individual to connect with the big spinning peach, to just be a part of the conversations and the processing that has to get done, and is best done early when the decisions are being formed. I'm still in the beginning stages of listening and observing to see where the energy bottlenecks are.

When they seem to rest in individuals who are unknowingly, or intentionally slowing down change, it can be a big problem. People who are not open to seeing themselves and their behaviors with thoughtfulness are a thorn in the side of organizations who are usually responding to change that is thrust upon them. While there is some value in knowing how things have always been done, it's more important to know why this is so, and if it really speaks to the core values or is just habit.

I'm encouraged to know that OCF people are there, looking within and holding the values strongly. When their decisions seem scary or just plain wrong, it is valuable to look at the core values and bring them to bear.

I love the way Saturday Market does this so often. All of our struggles are lessened when we can remember what needs to lie underneath our actions.

Yet, we have to remember that our core values are not necessarily the core values of those we interact with. The harder task is seeing where the others are coming from, where the values may differ, and working to align the "opponents" so that we all become us. Or We.

It can happen.