Away from Costa Rica on Safari in South Africa.
I have spent the last several days at a Creativity Conference & Safari in South Africa. www.sacreativity.com. To say it was a trip of a lifetime is a huge understatement and in fact 24 hours after landing amidst the sophistication of Paris, I am still looking behind me for Wild Dogs, Cheetahs and Baboons! Alas, only well dressed Parisians to be found. I'm afraid without French, the wildlife understood me better in South Africa. Over a series of posts, I will try and capture the 14th annual ACRE Annual Creativity Event, which brings together a creative and caring community from around the globe. With a world in crisis, I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of a group of educators and business leaders focused on "The Possibilites" for creating and living better lives and building a better world.
Cheetah WOW! Above photo was taken Going Wild with an Ambassador Cheetah! Imagine the purrrrrrrr of your kitty times 100! Needless to say, no sudden hand motions and trust that the creature you're with likes you and has eaten dinner! Hah, just like relationships!
Community/Tribal Hip Hop! A highlight of my trip was for certain gaining new insights into the world of creativity but perhaps, more importantly, the blessings of the people I spent time with. A reminder to myself spend more time with people than machines or process. In my session with educators, I focused on tribal traditions. I believe everyone needs a tribe to survive and thrive in business and life and since "we do tend to become the people we spend time with" . "WOW was I in good company". Educators Making a Difference One highlight of the conference was I was asked to speak to a team of Educators from the South African School System "Hoerskool Piet Potgieter" I convinced my young colleague, Sid Marquez, an international hip hop artist from Paris, to work with the children at the school while I spent some time with the teachers. Sorry Sid about that 6:00 a.m. departure! I think I may have forgotten to mention to Sid that there would be 900 South African School Children in his audience. As he later told me of students asking for his used waterbottle and autograph, I realized I was party to magic. The magic of a cross cultural and multi-generational connection, put together in less than 24 hours by caring educators who believed in making a difference. The magic of motion, music and poetry. That's Hip Hop!
Hip Hop originated in New York in the Ghettos of New York in the 1970's with young people trying to find their voice
In closing this first conference post, I will share a note I wrote on the plane about the ACRE 14 conference, as I prepared to re-enter reality. As you face your own daily realities, a reminder to find your tribe. Keep your voice and make your own long lists of life's incredible possibilities
Sacreativity 2008 ---The Power of Possibilities
World in crisis, yet there is sanctuary and creativity in this distant land so very farm from my own
A land of possibilities, of rainbows realized and more storms to weather
Head and heart seeking not what is, but what could be. They dance, they laugh, they think better in their knowledge that in both business and life, we need to make "Longer lists and Better Choices" (1)
(1) Tim Hurson, Keynote Presenter Sacreativity 2008 Thanks to Kobus Neethling & the ACRE 14 Conference Team www.gowildogreat.com www.businessmeetingscostarica.com
