Have you ever heard that Madonna has had such a long career because she keeps reinventing herself. It’s a funny idea to a Buddhist. How could one not continue to invent a new self. To me it would take more energy to stop change. Would you faint from holding your breath? Maybe an iron maiden could stop physical growth but nothing can stop the mind (even a coma?).
Given the gift of being 63, I am able to look at the timeline of my life and see where the big changes happened, how they ignited, percolated, burst out and, finally, integrated into everyday life. One of the bigger quakes occurred upon discovering a whole burst of thought about leadership, inquiry, conversations and servant-leadership. Greenleaf, Brown, Wheatley, Cooperrider and Whitney absorbed me for several years after the turn of this century.
How it shows up in my life is constant. Pacific Shore NOW was convened after holding a Feminist Café in my backyard; a brilliant young slate of women were elected to California NOW after holding a Young Feminist Summit in Sacramento; my openness to the LGBTQAI culture, language and spectrum of expression is the outcome of respecting the honest question and the honest answer.
At the core of this whole line of study is an understanding that positive inquiry draws out something valuable, wholesome, interesting. I have had the honor of being interviewed by college students working on papers, radio shows, TV programs, archivists, journalists. I don’t recall ever declining a genuine interview – though I have tried to talk people out of them for fear that they will be disappointed.
This last Sunday I was interviewed by a friend, Veronica. I warned her that I would not be a good interview and she insisted. I am so glad she did. She asked new questions, interesting questions, challenging questions. I love it when I think ~ oh oh I wonder what I am gonna say. And, Veronica was open to being asked questions too. It was a true conversation. I am so glad I said yes but, moreover, I am so glad she asked.
Here is the interview as an mp3 (mouse over the bar and an arrow appears on the left):
At the end of the call, Veronica said that she hoped one day I would post my third book, Matri, Letters from the Mother on the internet.
Thank you for asking and here it is in its entirety.
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