Monday, March 2, 2009
getting ready for our first dare
phew. so we just finished an interview on the cbc. That was a little scary - putting it out there, before it's fully formed - for all to see.
It's also a little scary to write this blog. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the thought being less than brilliant has often stopped me from doing any writing at all.
But I've promised to transform my own fear into fun and other Maia has already challenged me -- "is this for real or is it just some clever marketing for a fundraising campaign?"
So now this campaign has become my only spiritual practice... letting go of the things that keep me fearful, that keep me from reaching out, that keep me playing it too safe -- and the biggest -- that keep me from talking about things but never taking action.
I'm determined to bust through it all -- and I've announced it to all of Victoria just to keep me from slacking off.
And already I'm feeling pretty alive. More than I've felt since the last time I stretched myself out of comfort zone. I'm also discovering a few unexpected gifts:
It's easy to talk about community building...but scary to give up control to actually invite real community building to happen. One great thing about starting something while having very little idea how that thing will actually work - is that it's the cracks of unknowing and uncertainty that allow spaces for beautiful things to grow.
Example #1 -- I went to my friend Lisa Helps' house when this whole thing was starting. A few moments into my story, she asked me if I'd consider broadening the GForce vision.
What if instead of raising money for two non-profits, we considered forming something we tentatively called the Victoria Citizens' Trust. Other Maia, Lisa and I were totally excited - in so many ways bigger visions are more our styles. The VCT has a precedent -- in the 1930's, during the Great Depression, a group of average citizens raised $50,000 to help fellow Victorian's in need. They called it an Emergency Relief Fund - and there wasn't anything fun about it. But it does show what is possible when people decide to take action. The moment this larger vision was introduced a wave of excitement has started to build - far greater and faster than I could have anticipated. The only scary thing about this - is learning to simply ride the wave - no contol, just be willing to go where this thing takes us.
It's really the best kind of scary there is.
Example #2 -- our first dare. Maia and I raised enough money at our first G-Force event to make our first dare come true. To sing in public. Downtown. On a street corner. The anty had been raised -- to get other people - strangers - to join us.
Any one who knows me knows I'm not really afraid to get up in public or to speak. But I'm brave when there's separation -- I'm a performer, they're an audience. I don't have to connect or really read a public's reaction. When faced with that possibility, I do start to get clammy.
As an attempt to look like I was performing a dare, while secretly staying in my comfort zone, I was preparing to treat this impromptu choir like a performance. I'd dress up like Elvis, assume another personality and start belting out show tunes. I told the founder of Gettin Higher Choir, and one of our valued champions, Shivon Robinson, about this plan.
I thought she's be jazzed. She wasn't.
She reminded me that most people in this society are musically wounded. That shaming people or embarrassing people with music only adds to the wounding. Is that really what G-Force is about? Publicity stunts?
Suddenly this dare became much more...
Calling me to be vulnerable and open to real healing from a community of people who might be open to the same things. But for this possibility to be realized, the dare has to be structured much differently. Isn't this one of the real opportunties offered by this economic crisis.
It's also a little scary to write this blog. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the thought being less than brilliant has often stopped me from doing any writing at all.
But I've promised to transform my own fear into fun and other Maia has already challenged me -- "is this for real or is it just some clever marketing for a fundraising campaign?"
So now this campaign has become my only spiritual practice... letting go of the things that keep me fearful, that keep me from reaching out, that keep me playing it too safe -- and the biggest -- that keep me from talking about things but never taking action.
I'm determined to bust through it all -- and I've announced it to all of Victoria just to keep me from slacking off.
And already I'm feeling pretty alive. More than I've felt since the last time I stretched myself out of comfort zone. I'm also discovering a few unexpected gifts:
It's easy to talk about community building...but scary to give up control to actually invite real community building to happen. One great thing about starting something while having very little idea how that thing will actually work - is that it's the cracks of unknowing and uncertainty that allow spaces for beautiful things to grow.
Example #1 -- I went to my friend Lisa Helps' house when this whole thing was starting. A few moments into my story, she asked me if I'd consider broadening the GForce vision.
What if instead of raising money for two non-profits, we considered forming something we tentatively called the Victoria Citizens' Trust. Other Maia, Lisa and I were totally excited - in so many ways bigger visions are more our styles. The VCT has a precedent -- in the 1930's, during the Great Depression, a group of average citizens raised $50,000 to help fellow Victorian's in need. They called it an Emergency Relief Fund - and there wasn't anything fun about it. But it does show what is possible when people decide to take action. The moment this larger vision was introduced a wave of excitement has started to build - far greater and faster than I could have anticipated. The only scary thing about this - is learning to simply ride the wave - no contol, just be willing to go where this thing takes us.
It's really the best kind of scary there is.
Example #2 -- our first dare. Maia and I raised enough money at our first G-Force event to make our first dare come true. To sing in public. Downtown. On a street corner. The anty had been raised -- to get other people - strangers - to join us.
Any one who knows me knows I'm not really afraid to get up in public or to speak. But I'm brave when there's separation -- I'm a performer, they're an audience. I don't have to connect or really read a public's reaction. When faced with that possibility, I do start to get clammy.
As an attempt to look like I was performing a dare, while secretly staying in my comfort zone, I was preparing to treat this impromptu choir like a performance. I'd dress up like Elvis, assume another personality and start belting out show tunes. I told the founder of Gettin Higher Choir, and one of our valued champions, Shivon Robinson, about this plan.
I thought she's be jazzed. She wasn't.
She reminded me that most people in this society are musically wounded. That shaming people or embarrassing people with music only adds to the wounding. Is that really what G-Force is about? Publicity stunts?
Suddenly this dare became much more...
Calling me to be vulnerable and open to real healing from a community of people who might be open to the same things. But for this possibility to be realized, the dare has to be structured much differently. Isn't this one of the real opportunties offered by this economic crisis.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Welcome Friends
Just a little hello and welcome to anyone who is just joining us. Please hit follow on the right, so that you can follow our blog. You don't need to have a blogger membership to follow!
Thanks to all!!
And yay for this http://www.timescolonist.com/
Woot woot!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
one more thing
hahaha... i'm so sorry Maia G... if you don't like it, take it off - but I saw this section called "fun and games" and I thought - we're all about FUN (not fear!), and then I saw they had old school pacman... and well, that's just truly fun... so i was thinking if people were feeling really worried about all the craploads of cash they were losing, they could just play a game of pacman, and feel completely better...
... maybe hit mute before you play though!
... maybe hit mute before you play though!
and Take Off
Well Maia G. We did it! We launched The G Force! And we did it in style. Awesome music, food, wine, people, conversation... a hilarious auction... and a great buzz after! Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated our launch with us, and also a huge thanks to Lighthouse Brewing Company, Smugglers Cove Neighbourhood pub and liquor store and Little Piggy Catering!! We just couldn't have done it without your touching blind faith in us and your commitment to community.
So Maia... shall we tell people about how our plan has expanded into a beautiful concept? The Victoria Citizen's Trust! Do you want to tell them about it?? I'm almost too tired to write tonight, after coming down from our first big event!
Maybe I'll write a quick little anecdote about how we raised our first $20.00 and then I'll hit the sack... so... A wonderful friend of mine who was part of the Canadian Youth Delegation to Poznan with me was biking home from school. And its a long ride. Very hilly. This guy in a car totally cut her off - like she had to swerve to the other side of the street to avoid sudden death... did he even notice or care? No. She yelled at him and he just shrugged and carried on. However, by the next light she had caught up with him... she looked into his car, and his young child was sitting in the back seat playing with the man's wallet. He pulled out a 20, and was waving it around and looking at the hologram in the light. Both windows were open and a bit of wind caught the $20.00 and blew it into a ditch on the side of the road. The man hadn't noticed, the light had turned green, and off he drove. My friend biked over to the side of the road, picked up the $20.00 and put it safely in her wallet.
That night at dinner while telling her about our campaign, she said, "that's an awesome idea, I'll totally support that" - and she pulled out the 20 and told me the story. She had turned a negative experience into the chance to help out a friend and a great cause... a cause that will create more fun and happiness in the world, and less grumpy and bitter old farts who don't give a flying f#%$ if they run a biker off a road or not.
Thanks for our first $20.00 Our first step in our 20 weeks on our way to $20,000.00
So Maia... shall we tell people about how our plan has expanded into a beautiful concept? The Victoria Citizen's Trust! Do you want to tell them about it?? I'm almost too tired to write tonight, after coming down from our first big event!
Maybe I'll write a quick little anecdote about how we raised our first $20.00 and then I'll hit the sack... so... A wonderful friend of mine who was part of the Canadian Youth Delegation to Poznan with me was biking home from school. And its a long ride. Very hilly. This guy in a car totally cut her off - like she had to swerve to the other side of the street to avoid sudden death... did he even notice or care? No. She yelled at him and he just shrugged and carried on. However, by the next light she had caught up with him... she looked into his car, and his young child was sitting in the back seat playing with the man's wallet. He pulled out a 20, and was waving it around and looking at the hologram in the light. Both windows were open and a bit of wind caught the $20.00 and blew it into a ditch on the side of the road. The man hadn't noticed, the light had turned green, and off he drove. My friend biked over to the side of the road, picked up the $20.00 and put it safely in her wallet.
That night at dinner while telling her about our campaign, she said, "that's an awesome idea, I'll totally support that" - and she pulled out the 20 and told me the story. She had turned a negative experience into the chance to help out a friend and a great cause... a cause that will create more fun and happiness in the world, and less grumpy and bitter old farts who don't give a flying f#%$ if they run a biker off a road or not.
Thanks for our first $20.00 Our first step in our 20 weeks on our way to $20,000.00
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The beginning of THE FORCE
Last night I was feeling a little down so I went to hang out with my friend, Lisa Helps. This economic downturn hits a fear button in me and I was feeling a little freaked. Lisa reminded me cheerfully that more millionaires were created than destroyed during the Great Depression of the 1930's. "Not everything was depressed," she said. "there was also an amazing creative energy." Lisa's an activist and historian, so she sees how the pendulum swings.
I guess that's how nature works -- there are all these forces at play in the universe. When something is destroyed, something else is created.
I hope she's right...my partner just lost his job and he was the bread winner while I stay home with our baby. It's so tempting to flap around and feel desperate, but then what force am I submitting to and then what am I creating?
So, I'm jumping at Maia G's idea to raise money for non-profits near and dear to us as a way of staying up during down times.
I also have a feeling given our creative, slightly manic brains, that this will not be your ordinary run of the mill fundraising campaign...
Stay tuned and mark Feburary 20 down in your calendar (we'll fill you in on details soon)
Love,
Maia G
I guess that's how nature works -- there are all these forces at play in the universe. When something is destroyed, something else is created.
I hope she's right...my partner just lost his job and he was the bread winner while I stay home with our baby. It's so tempting to flap around and feel desperate, but then what force am I submitting to and then what am I creating?
So, I'm jumping at Maia G's idea to raise money for non-profits near and dear to us as a way of staying up during down times.
I also have a feeling given our creative, slightly manic brains, that this will not be your ordinary run of the mill fundraising campaign...
Stay tuned and mark Feburary 20 down in your calendar (we'll fill you in on details soon)
Love,
Maia G
Friday, January 16, 2009
Maia makes a resolution!
Today I begin my first ever joint-resolution. I’m not usually one for New Year’s resolutions. I already go to the gym. I already eat organic. And most of my other flaws are just rather unlikely to change. I will still eat chocolate. I will still drink beer. Who am I kidding? So, I tend to either make really broad resolutions, like “I resolve to be a better person this year” or I just don’t make them at all. You may wonder why I have not only decided to make a resolution this year, but have also decided to commit to not just myself but another person. Not to mention this whole broadcasting it for everyone to see.
I may end up wondering why myself. I may end up kicking myself if we fail miserably and all of you are watching. But today it seems like a good idea. Today this seems like the best resolution I’ve ever made. And besides, it’s pretty cool to make a resolution with another Maia G.
Our resolution is to use the wise words of Bruce Elkin (Victoria author and coach) and to stay up during down times! (link to book). Our resolution is to save two environmental education groups from the wrath of this highly inconvenient recession, or economic slowdown, or whatever you want to call it. However you try to word it, it means the same thing. It means that times are tough. It means that people like me in the “I can have whatever I want - I can do whatever I want – I can be whoever I want generation” have a bit of a shock coming to us. It means that people need to be creative and positive and resourceful to make their dreams come true.
And Maia G and Maia G plan to do just that. (Yes, these are our real names)
We resolve to raise $20,000 for LifeCycles and $20,000 for FUN Society, through fun and creative ways by May 1st, 2009.
All we need is 200 of our loving friends and family to give us $100.00 (tax deductible) and we’ll be done. We wont even need to organize any fun events! But be assured – even if every one of you sends us $100.00 right this minute, we are still going to be putting on some of these events, because they are going to be so crazy and so much fun.
The point of this blog is to share our adventure with you. We want to show the world that it is possible to stay up during down times. We want to inspire other groups that are struggling for money to be creative and to not give up. We want to entertain you with our crazy events, our wacky schemes, our guerilla fundraising, our embarrassments, our mess-ups, our silliness, our successes, our failures.
What do you think Maia G? Do you think we’re going to wow the world with our creativity and our pizzazz? (I had no idea that was how to spell pizzazz – thank you auto spell correct). I’m so excited to work on this with you. I’m so excited for all the people we are going to meet. I’m so excited for the fun events that we are going to host. I’m so excited to get these organizations the confirmed funding that they need, so that other groups can feel confident jumping on board and funding them as well. Go team Maia G!
I may end up wondering why myself. I may end up kicking myself if we fail miserably and all of you are watching. But today it seems like a good idea. Today this seems like the best resolution I’ve ever made. And besides, it’s pretty cool to make a resolution with another Maia G.
Our resolution is to use the wise words of Bruce Elkin (Victoria author and coach) and to stay up during down times! (link to book). Our resolution is to save two environmental education groups from the wrath of this highly inconvenient recession, or economic slowdown, or whatever you want to call it. However you try to word it, it means the same thing. It means that times are tough. It means that people like me in the “I can have whatever I want - I can do whatever I want – I can be whoever I want generation” have a bit of a shock coming to us. It means that people need to be creative and positive and resourceful to make their dreams come true.
And Maia G and Maia G plan to do just that. (Yes, these are our real names)
We resolve to raise $20,000 for LifeCycles and $20,000 for FUN Society, through fun and creative ways by May 1st, 2009.
All we need is 200 of our loving friends and family to give us $100.00 (tax deductible) and we’ll be done. We wont even need to organize any fun events! But be assured – even if every one of you sends us $100.00 right this minute, we are still going to be putting on some of these events, because they are going to be so crazy and so much fun.
The point of this blog is to share our adventure with you. We want to show the world that it is possible to stay up during down times. We want to inspire other groups that are struggling for money to be creative and to not give up. We want to entertain you with our crazy events, our wacky schemes, our guerilla fundraising, our embarrassments, our mess-ups, our silliness, our successes, our failures.
What do you think Maia G? Do you think we’re going to wow the world with our creativity and our pizzazz? (I had no idea that was how to spell pizzazz – thank you auto spell correct). I’m so excited to work on this with you. I’m so excited for all the people we are going to meet. I’m so excited for the fun events that we are going to host. I’m so excited to get these organizations the confirmed funding that they need, so that other groups can feel confident jumping on board and funding them as well. Go team Maia G!
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