Question for Suzi: 

Does one person first come to mind:   In your very very first “adult” job -- when you were perhaps first out of college or over the age of 21 let’s say – is there someone that pops to mind who brings a smile to your face not because of anything in your specific relationship but just because of who they were or how they moved through the world?

Question for Corey:

Randy Pausch once wrote that “walls are put in front of us to see how badly we really want something.”  Is there a project in life or work that came with (or comes with) many obstacles (i.e. “walls”) that revealed that your initial intention and excitement was not as strong as you thought it was ?

Question for Howard:

What is one thing that is small and perhaps nuanced or surprising and perhaps typically sub conscious that you can tell drives you each day ?

Question for Thor: 

Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?

Question for MJ:

Randy Pausch once wrote that “walls are put in front of us to see how badly we really want something.”  Is there a project in life or work that came with (or comes with) many obstacles (i.e. “walls”) that revealed that your initial intention and excitement was not as strong as you thought it was ?

Question for Matt:

The Serenity Prayer offers:      “Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…”.   With this thought, does something come to mind that you could have changed but felt (or currently feel) you are lacking the courage to change ?

Question for Steph:

Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?

Question for Robert: 

What is one thing that is small and perhaps nuanced or surprising and perhaps typically sub conscious that you can tell drives you each day ?

Last month, Pip shared with me this story, and I've had it "pinned" in my inbox - it's something I've re-read now multiple times as it truly moved me. We wanted to share it more widely.  And with tomorrow being a holiday celebrating love, relationships, and human connection, I thought it could be fitting :) 

This note also reminds me of the feeling I've experienced in gatherings within this community with you all. The sense of togetherness, deep curiosity, uncommon trust, and warmth that I feel permeate the space with one another is like being covered in that sweet powdered sugar, as mentioned in the story below. And I just love that metaphor. 

- AP

Question for Lan:

Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?

Question for Benji:

Randy Pausch once wrote that “walls are put in front of us to see how badly we really want something.”  Is there a project in life or work that came with (or comes with) many obstacles (i.e. “walls”) that revealed that your initial intention and excitement was not as strong as you thought it was ?

Question for Jörgen:

There is an idea that we can learn from every single person on the planet.  But there are also deeply ingrained habits we have been trained in that “teachers” have a formal designation which might limit our scope for learning.  With that thought, does someone come to mind in the past five weeks that you wouldn’t consider a “formal” teacher at all but who you learned something special from… (perhaps even someone you aren’t even fond of) ?

I chose a different path for us this week.

I am sharing Benji's penetrating, compassionate, hope-filled response to Rich's spotlight piece from last week.

So many were deeply affected by Rich’s words.

Rich wrote a thank you to all of us.  It is also below. He never imagined receiving back so many notes of love and care.

Here is the link to Rich's piece in case you missed it. You will also find there 13 CFC responses from fall 2023 to the weekly questions Pip and I present to dear people we all wander with: Jennifer, Amber, Holly, Rudy, Irwin, Neeru, Jack, Lauren, Ryan, Jaime, Christina, Rich U., and Eric. 

LINK: Rich's Spotlight on Website

- AP 

Question for Richard:  

What is one thing that is small and perhaps nuanced or surprising and perhaps typically sub conscious that you can tell drives you each day ?

We are now four months into doing CFC "Spotlight" pieces, so I thought it would be nice to spotlight a handful of short quotes from the last few months! I have LOVED reading these writings. And now rather than having a library of pieces on the CFC website, we have a library of people. Here's the link for all so far - Library.  And the outdoor photos have all been awesome too. I've attached one semi-candid (is that a thing?) photo below of Amber and I from a much warmer time. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! 

- Amanda

Question for Eric: 

Does one person first come to mind:  In your very very first “adult” job -- when you were perhaps first out of college or over the age of 21 let’s say – is there someone that pops to mind who brings a smile to your face not because of anything in your specific relationship but just because of who they were or how they moved through the world?

Question for Richard: 

Can you recall a moment in the past month in your work that something in it was going so so amazingly well in a deep, rich, wonderful way that you wished you could immediately and adequately and fully explain and share it with your mom or dad (be they living or having already passed) such that they might know your joy?

Question for Christina: 

Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?

Question for Jaime: 

What quote or saying has been on your mind and how has it impacted you or the projects you're involved in lately?

Question for Ryan: 

There is an idea that we can learn from every single person on the planet.  But there are also deeply ingrained habits we have been trained in that “teachers” have a formal designation which might limit our scope for learning.  With that thought, does someone come to mind in the past five weeks that you wouldn’t consider a “formal” teacher at all but who you learned something special from… (perhaps even someone you aren’t even fond of) ?

Question for Lauren: 

Randy Pausch once wrote that “walls are put in front of us to see how badly we really want something.”  Is there a project in life or work that came with (or comes with) many obstacles (i.e. “walls”) that revealed that your initial intention and excitement was not as strong as you thought it was ?

Question for Jack: 

What is one thing that is small and perhaps nuanced or surprising and perhaps typically sub-conscious that you can tell drives you each day?

Question for Neeru: 

The Serenity Prayer offers:      “Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…”.   With this thought, does something come to mind that you couldn’t change but had (or are having) trouble accepting ?

Question for Irwin: 

There is an idea that we can learn from every single person on the planet.  But there are also deeply ingrained habits we have been trained in that “teachers” have a formal designation which might limit our scope for learning.  With that thought, does someone come to mind in the past five weeks that you wouldn’t consider a “formal” teacher at all but who you learned something special from… (perhaps even someone you aren’t even fond of) ? 

Question for Rudy: 

Can you recall a specific moment in the last four months that you were in what you would consider to be “nature” and thought or felt for at least a split second that “maybe all is actually right with the world” ?

Question for Holly: 

Can you recall a moment in the past month in your work that something in it was going so so amazingly well in a deep, rich, wonderful way that you wished you could immediately and adequately and fully explain and share it with your mom or dad (be they living or having already passed) such that they might know your joy? 

Question for Amber:  

What is one thing that is small and perhaps nuanced or surprising and perhaps typically sub conscious that you can tell drives you each day?

Question for Jennifer:  

Randy Pausch once wrote that “walls are put in front of us to see how badly we really want something.”  Is there a project in life or work that came with (or comes with) many obstacles (i.e. “walls”) that revealed that your initial intention and excitement was not as strong as you thought it was ?