"May you know the wisdom of deep listening
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity."
From "For a Leader" by John O'Donohue

Hello,
It's been quite a week here in the USA. As someone who believes there is more in common between us than different, that belief has certainly been tested this week.

The one tool that I always return to no matter what is going on, is the practice of shifting my focus to connecting with place. It's what helps me feel grounded, no matter where I am.

I noticed it last month. We were visiting a small town here in New England, and I was irritated by how people were behaving (or not behaving), and it was ruining my mood. All of a sudden, I noticed a building across the street. An old, beautiful stone building. I started wondering, "When was that built? When did they use stones like that? Why aren't there more of them here?" And my mind was shifted—focusing in a direction that relieved me from ruminating on my feelings.

This is how sense-of-place-making works. It's not about clearing the mind of thoughts, but directing your attention towards something that you wonder about and being curious. It's about not distracting yourself but getting more present where you are. It's not about ignoring hard truths or escaping into pleasant feelings, but about getting more connected to a place in that moment.

It is a way to have an intimacy with a place, which feels like a truly worthwhile pursuit, especially in this time of social distancing. When a sense of connection, relationship, and resonance can be hard to come by, you can have that kind of experience by interacting with a place.

That is what people have found in my community virtual gatherings over the past seven months: That connecting to places helps them feel more alive, awake, calm, present, grounded, focused, and creative. And less disconnected, un-grounded, or alone.

Writing about your connections to places is the door in to knowing more about who you are inside. And the door in to feeling more present now.

If you feel a need to restore and realign while also learning some practical tools at the same time—I have a virtual writing retreat coming up, and if you've taken a class with me before, our alumni writing group starts Sunday.

Interpretation and Education
Next week I am really looking forward to presenting my virtual session at the National Association for Interpretation conference called "Creating Inclusive Sense of Place Narratives." I hope to "see" some of you there. For information on programs for interpreters and educators coming in December 2020 and into 2021 visit https://senseofplaceconsulting.com/training