Every week, the Canada Bridges Team comes together for our team meeting. This is the only time in the week that everyone will sit together in a circle, share updates from our personal lives, share updates from our work lives, talk about upcoming work items and figure out how to collaborate for the week ahead. About 5 months ago, we also added another component: 10-15 minutes of learning. We each take turns leading these learning conversations and we can choose anything to share. It took a bit of time to get used to it, but for some, it has become a highlight of our time together.
Recently our practicum student, Veronica, led the learning by sharing a story about how her Grandmother was a gifted teacher, but that she would never tell her directly what she should do. Her grandmother would tell a story about her life or someone else’s and there would be a lesson tucked in there to discover. Veronica wanted to know about each of our experiences, and if special people had influenced us similar to how her Grandmother had helped to shape her? She asked each of us in the circle to share a story or a quote that we had listened to as a youth and that had stuck with us to this day.
For me, it was a memorable 25 minutes that helped me see many things, including that we have been gifted so much knowledge to share with others and that it is worthwhile to spend time reflecting on how that knowledge was passed to me, why it actually stuck, how long it actually took for me to truly learn that lesson and how a good lesson never really stops guiding you through life. I was reminded to think deeply about how I can be a responsible knowledge giver by paying attention and remembering who, how, when, where and why those most important lessons were not only offered to me but that I was able to receive them.
In closing, I thought I would share with you some of the words of wisdom that were shared around the table that day. My hope is that by hearing these words, that you might feel like I did that day - like I knew the Canada Bridges team a little better. And, as you read, maybe it will give you, as it did for me, a feeling of gratitude for the many people and generations before us, known and unknown, that worked hard so we could be sitting together, building a vision to make this table equitable for youth.
Words of wisdom that stuck with us when we were young:
“There is a place and means for every person alive.” Shared by Randy
“Nothing in nature blooms all year round. Be patient with yourself.” Shared by Kalista
“Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Shared by Sarah
“Slowly, slowly…The elephant wasn’t built in a day.” Shared by Alyssa
“Get busy living or get busy dying.” Shared by Randy
“God put you on the Earth because he knew you were strong enough to live it.” Shared by Tyra
“Everybody has their day in the dungeon, and you don't need me to solve your problems.” Shared by Anna-Marie
“Do you know the meaning of water?” Shared by Sandis
“Love me or hate me, support me or snake me, either way I show love, let it make me or break me.” Shared by Ike
“You don’t have to be ‘nice’, but never forget to be kind.” Shared by Alison
Thanks for reading. Merci beaucoup. Isniyes. ~ Sarah