Being Present for the Future

Attendees: Leaders: Victor Bremson and Rich Henry; Phil Gerson, Helen Spector, Diana Bonyhadi, Cindy Schell, Andrea Faste

Victor: IVY and ForTheGrandChildren started an intergenerational dialogue by asking each other questions that we had developed.  The larger group joined into the dialogue process.  We completed the session by breaking into small groups and continuing the dialogue.  The event felt very animated and spontaneous.

ForTheGrandChildren used a tool called repeating questions to create a 2 person  dialogue about what does it means to be present for the future.  The dialogue was well received

Example of one person’s dialogue:

Question # 1: What does it mean to be present in the future?

Think more about the consequences of every day decisions and actions.

Determine the topics of your personal passion to build a better world and pick a marker or event in the next three months that will move you forward. Get it on your calendar and get back to being present in the present. Build network of friends and encourage them to be present at this next event. When that event happens reassess your energy allocation, assist your friends to be part of the network for collaboratively moving forward.

After participants have enough time to absorb the event’s meaning, call them back within two weeks and to connect to other downstream events by other groups to allow a conduit to keep the energy flowing.

Interact with those people committed to understanding and preparing for their personal great turning to build the network of people who can redirect their energies when significant changes or events occur.

Assist groups and their members in getting to know other groups and their members on a more people to people basis by sharing stories.

Allow people to tell their stories, take the time to listen to them and even record thoughts on what motivates their passions.

Continue to seize the opportunity to teach others by forming neighborhood groups on topics germane to the Great Turning and analyzing facts and their future implications to all peoples.

Question #2: Where were you when the great turning took place?

I was still part of my neighborhood group that had formed in 2007 to prepare for the great turning.

We had over the years been growing a common organic garden which now supplies us with 65% of our dietary needs.

With use of the internet and my social roots in our neighborhood. We are down to one hydrogen powered car in the family and rent a hydrogen powered car for special travel needs. 

Our group is assisting other neighborhood groups to make their adjustments to the great turning.

I traveled to Latin America and Africa and was pleasantly surprised to see that with the indigenous peoples receiving benefits from their countries’ resources their standard of living is approaching ours and that pressures to leave their native countries has greatly diminished.