A Year of Living Generously

In November 2014, I attended a consultants’ retreat in Oregon. By the end of the week, I had pretty clearly decided that I did not want to be a “consultant,” if that meant working really hard to find clients, exchange my time for their money, and come into their business and “fix” it. 

When I returned home, with some support from a friendly coach I got clear about what I do want:

• To companion people and organizations in uncertainty;
• To co-create opportunities for people to experience meaningful community; and 
• To offer my time, presence and skill as a gift. 

It was clear to me that my work with communication, conflict and decision-making through Storm Integrated Solutions, my service with Family HEART Camp, and the ministry of the Seven Principles Project are all expressions of the first two points. 

How, then, to manifest the third point? Thus began a year-long exploration of generosity and "gift economy" that I'm calling my year of living generously. This blog is about my experience.