Skype-call on how young students in Lviv will investigate alternative paths...

With such a direct question like this >> What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? (source: the-hub.net) >> on Dec 11 together with 2 enthusiasts in Ukraine we want to kick-off a 3-hour bright event/gathering/fest for around 100 young students/spirits in Lviv city in Ukraine (this is the most coziest city, with so many cafes around and the new popping up all the time, so that people literally live in the World Cafe spirit)...

The topic - is around alternatives paths to choose in life - to show young people the alternative way of building careers, following their hearts... There will be young people from AIESEC youth leadership org. as well as other people - from villages, and other paths of life ;) We don't want to make any judgement, comparison, evaluation, just make it clear - that there are that many alternatives in the world!!! And bring the Pioneers of Change values... * be yourself * do what matters * start now * engage with others * never stop asking questions.

We want to break the "talk-show"... and I'm to moderate it, and I just wonder - what might be the "talk-show" in the Art of Hosting format/way of doing it? Talk-show is the known format in Ukraine, yet I definitely want to make it a different one... and maybe call it "multi-dialogue" or I don't know yet...

If you have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, tips or mere interest on how to turn the usual 'talk-show' into Art of Hosting ;) any-any-anything, let's meet at the skype >>

Date: November 29, 2008
Time: TBD
Please e-mail to find the best time: yoolka@gmail.com
I'm looking forward so much...

Yohoo! New mailing list for the PoC network in Ukraine

Here we go... yeah... the new mailing list for the Pioneers of Change in Ukraine has been created >> ukraine-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net

The invitation for the current and future mates to join will follow shortly.

And exactly at the right time. Tomorrow at 7am I'm off to head for the Chernihiv lyceum for talented young people to break conversations about future, and about Pioneers of Change in Ukraine... Cool!

In anticipation...

Practicing fearlessness...

Tom Peters once wrote about "1 minute excellence"... That is when a person starts to be the way one wants to just in 1 minute... ?! This is how much time one needs to literally make a decision about it. Indeed, it took me no more than 1 minute to decide I want to be fearlessness. This minute wanted to happen long ago, but actually came clear and fast after reading one of the articles at the Margaret J. Wheatley's webpage. And now within a month I see it works by getting feedback from my friends and colleagues that I've changed, become more wild (read 'myself' or 'warrior' ;) in a way. I stand for my values, and claim them, challenging the faked things and intentions, ready to be hurt and cut what's not mine, valuing diversity, appreciating realness, strengthening faith, love and compassion at the same time.

And this is soooo important to nurture fearlessness... and keep the ground, yet trying to be hooked up to the sky (this is from Toke Moeller's aikido lesson). So, the message with the quote from Richard Moreham, the author of the human innovation blog, arrived to my mail-box ontime:

• “It is a vision John Stuart Mill, one of the founders of classical economics, would have approved of. In his Principles of Political Economy, published in 1848, he predicted that once the work of economic growth was done, a ‘stationary’ economy would emerge in which we could focus on human improvement: ‘There would be as much scope as ever for all kinds of mental culture, and moral and social progress... for improving the art of living and much more likelihood of it being improved, when minds cease to be engrossed by the art of getting on.’”
  
  New Scientist magazine, 16 October 2008: Special report: How our economy is killing the Earth

This gives a sense of being 'on the right track', being in harmony with the own values... This gives more courage to practice fearlessness, while moving forward and making things happen.

Going to the edge... beyond the map

I'm only at the beginning of the warrior's path... The game may be over, but the warrior's path is real and alive, beyond the paper map or blog... ;)

In the last several days a lot of personal conversations-that-matter happened, including the one with the self. During the journey to another city, some steps have become more clear. More plans appeared: to organize Pioneers of Change meetings in Chernihiv, Lviv, and potentially Odessa. And Kyiv, of course. Let's see... some technical stuff should go first to make it visible, but it's minor, indeed.

What else... I've decided to change some patterns on daily life, practicing the pioneering habit of going to the edge... So, these are my small commitments:

• Start my day peacefully
• Bring celebration along the way
• Do NOT do what does not matter, resist or cut it/be strange in others' eyes
• Appreciate life, going away from focusing on what's wrong, what's not working, what's the problem. Start with my family first
• Don't hide, don't fear
• Be grounded, and at the same time remain high with dreams and goals
• Be mindful and don't allow to react, but rather help options to appear
• Learn to converge, and bring things together
• Expect surprises
• Get myself ready, tend the garden
• Allow some things to let go/die to be born again

5 min before the trip...

I'm about to leave for the trip to Lviv, another beautiful old city of Ukraine... to practice art of hosting in the Lviv Business School community... Yes, one more day-off at work, following the heart and acting in the way I want to... Some people who know me for a long time would be surprised ;) good.

It's interesting, in the last couple of days I was approached by 2 people asking the same deep question: what's the calling in life? So, this is going to be the question for the first Pioneers of Change network meeting in Kyiv in October, when back from trips... Probably, at my flat that I moved into a month ago... This is all very inspiring...

More actions... and more reflections... and more questions... for which I'm grateful - to all who are part of my journey... And to the Warriors Without Weapons to help me face it ;)

I looouuuuve action...

John Lennon was right: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...

In the last posts I wrote some things that I planned to act upon... And the key words here are "act upon", once you do this simple behavior, things come to you to be accomplished ;)

Today I told 25 colleagues from the Kraft Foods Ukraina corporate (including the HR Director and my manager) my story about the trip to Axladitsa-Avatakia, Pioneers of Change Multigenerational Global Journey... I talked about Open Space, World Cafe, Circle, my experience, pioneers around the world. And I already got some feedback from people who would like to join next year...

So, holding the bigger vision, I keep on dancing/acting... And I believe in the open space principles - whatever comes is the only right thing to come... whoever is there, is the right people to be there... I'm enjoying it... And I hope to share with more steps.

And yes, I committed to be a steward of the PoC here in Kyiv, Ukraine...

So far, so goood ;)

Time to act now!

Beauty is not what it is, but what it does... so... how could I personally make a space for people’s hearts to sing?

Who could help me?
Cool team
Self-selected initiators
Support from the PoC mates
Support from Axladitsa hosts, and many other elders

What resources do I need?
Love
Courage
Persistency
Time and energy
Belief in what I’m doing, confidence

Skills (hosting, new media tools, etc.)
Investments

How do I gather people? Who are they?
By way of inviting… around core values… And I believe in self-selecting, and will trust that “those people who will come, will be the right people”.

What is your plan?
Start with the self, learn and practice the art of hosting, go for stewardship within Pioneers of Change, develop the Hub idea heavily adapted to Ukraine and Kyiv, build my own family, and by growing touch all the 5 lines of my life… in a beautiful way.

More concrete plan will follow...

Being quite realistic or ‘down to love’

Exploring the idea to make a real difference in this world, I’ve come up with the following question:

How could I personally make a space for people’s hearts to sing?

This was inspired by the poem brought by Rowan Simonsen from Denmark during the check-in of the Pioneers of Change Multigenerational Gathering in Axladitsa-Avatakia Learning Center in Greece (8-12 September, 2008).

Don’t ask what the world needs
Ask what makes your heart sing.
Because what the world needs
is hearts that sing.

Philip Thatcher

Coming back to question “how” I would try to play it from music:

1. Myself: however egoistic it may sound, it’s responsible to start with the self, learn to host myself, observe, listen, feel, sense, reflect, and act on the true calling, going through the U process cyclically. Most importantly, make love the center of everything and manifest it through all the words and actions that come from within. What else is important for me – to grow and get myself prepared for different periods in my life. Once I’m ready, it will come… and it will be the best I could have, no doubt.

2. My natives, my family: learn by practicing art of hosting to the family (current and future) around questions that matter, and don’t miss opportunities.

3. My circle of friends and mates: become a steward of the Pioneers of Change in Kyiv, keep on inviting mates to discuss questions that matter and can make a difference, having true fun and moving forward.

4. My current work: bring my learnings and experiences to my current projects, talking about ‘hearts singing’ in big corporations. Specifically, organize a story-telling event on September 19 during the lunch time – for those of my colleagues who would like to come, and they will be the right people. Also, bring my story of the PoC gathering to Chernihiv lyceum for the talented pupils, co-host the World Café in Lviv (on HR issues), Odessa (on Education-Boom issues), and in Kyiv (on PR issues), etc.

5. My future life/calling: organize something similar to the hub in Kyiv to create alternatives spaces, and before that – plan some event (potentially, Art of Hosting training) in Kyiv or the Learning Journey or something together with Axladitsa hosts, Maria and Sarah, and Ole, the visual facilitator from Denmark.

It’s interesting, that these lines are all interconnected in some sort of music I don’t yet know and hear. But once I play it, I hope that the hearts around me, and my heart as well, will be singing ;) Let’s see…

But you know what: I just feel that even if I manifest LOVE throughout my whole life, and do nothing more, that would alone make a difference… Of course, I dream big, just want to make sure that I’m always realistic and ‘down to love’ ;) All other things will happen, Gob bless.

Inspiring exercises on the road...

Now it's 00:52, Kyiv time, and in several hours I'll be in the airport to take off and head for Axladitsya-Avatakia Learning Center in Greece...

Realizing the limits to post the information, but enourmous opportunities to practice my trash-my excess-my consumption excercises on the Land with the group of 30 people, and weave it in the process of co-living and co-learning during several days - this all makes me excited!

And even before I go and do it... I've just finished cleaning my room, and collected 2 big sacks of things (clothes, books) that I want to give to the orphanage children when I'm back... I'm happy that I managed it, even if it's late and I'll have tired eyes tomorrow...

I'll keep track of my consumption level and make everything possible to practice recycling in the coming weeks... and further on (that's going to be a good habit, for this culture does not exist in Ukraine yet). If there is a chance I'll post how it goes, but if no chance to get connected via the Internet, I'll share my experience when back home...

And before I leave, I wonna thank Val for a wonderful inspirational exercises that could be practices on the road as well, and especially together with other people at the Pioneers of Change Multigenerational gathering...

From Purpose to Action...

MY PURPOSE
Back in 2007 I dreamt to become one of the warriors without weapons… And I believe this is the right time to become one fully – with the mind, heart, and soul. As I wrote in one of the posts below, I have a purpose to learn myself better, stretch the boundaries, step out of the comfort zone, see the reality in a different way, get to know other warriors without weapons who come from different parts of the world and bring their various perspectives on things that matter. I see interaction with these people on the land of the country that I dream to visit one day, contributing to Elos Institute with my readiness to jump in any activity of value (physical, and spiritual), as a way to better learn about myself and others, about relationship with the self, others and the nature, Mother Earth. Also, I want to be of service to the local community, and re-united with people with who I share the common values. These values are from the Pioneers of Change community, which I’m part of: be yourself, do what matters, start now, engage with others, and never stop asking questions. Also I share the creative way of learning, living and doing things together. Dance, music, literature, design, art – this is only part of what I’m deeply passionate about.

MY COMMITMENT
I want to bring my experience back to myself (on a personal level, living what I’ve learnt), my community (on a team or group level, sharing what I’ve learnt), and home country (light up some candles, doing what I’ve learnt through my projects). Also, I would want to be a living evidence of ‘changes for good’ for others to become the warriors without weapons, and maybe together we could make it happen in Ukraine. It takes two to have the army who can do it ;)

MY ACTION
With no doubt, after the warrior without weapon school, I will become stronger, more confident to step out and to step in, following my heart and passion. I would become more brave to pioneer things here in my home country, and to persuade people with what I believe in, or else keep on walking no matter what. I would become more courageous to make things happen. And Brazil, Elos community, and indigenous people would become part of myself, and I’ll broaden my perspective on things and see the world differently. And the new connections will be of huge importance to keep the conversations going, and to see what might be possible (join project, invitation to come to Ukraine for the potential Learning Journey or something else)... And the cultural richness would be of great value as well.

Who am I now?

A stranger to myself, a channel for the light to go through... it has been given to me, and I'm not sure I always carry it on... the channel for whatever should come through me... That's why I'm a listener... and I'm the walker on the road that is called life. My life does not belong to myself, and I'm responsible for it... That's why I want to learn more, open up senses to be a student who is learning and receives guidance from time to time, and at the same time who is self-organized and ready to step in to something really important, and is fearless to do it... I'm on this way... and I keep on walking... At times of breakdown, I just do it, and I hope there will be the way...

But besides the philosophical moments, I like to play, I like to observe, and I have passion around people and learning. I work in Kraft Foods in the communications area, and if I had a chance to live 7 lives, I would be:

- Piano musician (most likely, improviser)
- Film director (most likely, documentaries, but not only)
- Dancer (social dance, no classic)
- Tale writer and the poet
- Learning student, traveller, and informal teacher
- Host of the art cafe, supporter of people in art

I wonder how I could combine these 7 lives in the one that is given to me? Is it at all possible? I'm trying to find the way, and I hope that I don't live in the illusion, or else if I do - change the mind, stop searching, and follow my passion, no matter what... improvising on the way ;)

What deeply resonates...

The abstract from the seed paper on Collective Wisdom by Thomas J. Hurley:

"Fearless engagement entails the capacity to work at the edges of our own and the group’s comfort zone. It is a practice of exquisite attention to what must be challenged and provoked, or to where we need to extend ourselves. Archetypally, it expresses the warrior’s spirit. The warrior enters the field of engagement boldly, confident in her abilities. She waits to be tested, to be shaped by wrestling with greater forces and beings. She welcomes whatever comes and whomever she encounters – her own shadow, those who oppose her, the very guardians of the inner realms themselves. She is open and alert, filled with the aliveness and vitality that come from giving herself fully, without conditions. All her senses are awake and every cell in her body tingles – something deep within her stirs. She feels radical joy in saying Yes! to engagement, an elemental excitement in meeting and being met. She knows it is always herself she is meeting, even as she meets the world, and she knows it is always the unknown itself that beckons, even as she steps forward to accept the next challenge, again and again."

And here comes the quote from Helen Keller:

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

I want to be a warrior ;)

Why do I want to take part in the Warriors Without Weapons School?

• I want to stretch myself, go beyond the fears, investigate the boundaries and the edges of the self, and other people.
• I want to become stronger as a facilitator, more confident in what I'm trying to do in my home country, Ukraine.
• I want to learn more about myself, other people, and relationships.
• I want to open my senses, live different reality with the whole heart, mind, and soul.
• I want to look at my current reality with different eyes, from aside.
• I want to meet great people in all the diversity, but who are living from the same future.
• I want to learn more about the wonderful Brazil country with its challenges, about Elos Institute and its team, and put my soul and hands into something that would bring value to the community in this part of the world.
• I want to play and have fun, to bring joy and passion, to dance and to sing, doing it together with the warriors without weapons.
• I want to bring my experience back to my network and wider circles of interested people in my home country.
• I want to try it, how it is to be a warrior without weapons.

My profile

Yuliya loves conversations
Yuliya is passionate about people and ongoing development
Yuliya is open to learn
Yuliya believes in the power of two: 1+1 = 3 or 1000
Yuliya likes to share jokes and bursts of laughter with friends
Yuliya strives to step out of comfort zone, try new things, and take new roads
Yuliya enjoys life and tries to make it beautiful
Yuliya believes that beauty is not what it is, but what it does
Yuliya believes in God
Yuliya likes salsaing, tangoing in argentine way, playing piano, glass painting, reading/reciting poetry
Yuliya is interested in alternative media and documentaries
Yuliya is part of Pioneers of Change network and deeply shares its values: be yourself, do what matters, start now, engage with others, never stop asking questions
Yuliya is dreaming to visit Zimbabwe, India, Israel, Chili, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico
Yuliya plans to make a BIG SOMETHING to invite all the friends for the learning journey in Ukraine