REFLECTIONS
Behind the Scenes- Why I chose this Project
I did not "choose" this project as this is one of the projects that Gaia insists that we do through our 12 OP cycle. However, if self-deception is something that I can claim, I certainly would like to choose to do this as my final reflections on a very valuable 4 year process of learning design, documenting reflections. Explicitly articulating key un/learnings and key outcomes is a great tool that I have come to understand through GaiaU. I am grateful to not need to write "everything" down, but merely capture the essence of an experience in what really happened. I do believe that if I had been doing this through my travels since I was 20 (merely capturing each very valuable lesson learned), I would certainly have a best selling book now. It is a great lesson to use reflection to consider projects and experiences in our life and distill down to the essence. This yields more tangibility to the lesson and allows for looking back on a single aphorism rather than pages and pages of material where the true lesson never came through.
Collaboration: Leadership & Cooperation
This OP doesn't suit itself highly to Leadership or Cooperation. Although I was very lucky that two of my associates did their EoY presentations as I was preparing to do mine. Tommy also turned in his OP 5 which gave me the advantage of reflecting on my journey through his eyes.
MTMP
I very cleverly worked on this OP 5 in part throughout the year. It was interesting after each OP to read what I had already written. I basically already knew the structure and what I would share and I felt the cumulative approach would be valuable to touch in throughout--always with room for addition or subtraction of words and experiences. On the plane in my last month with Gaia, I watched "Getting Things Done"--3 years after my first exposure--and now it all seems so obvious. I am glad I have internalized many good strategies for managing my time and clarity with renegotiating my promises.
Classic Gaia Questions
What went well?
In the final busy month of May, I was very grateful for the work I had put in thinking about OP 5 during my OP 2,3,and 4 cycles. I like the cumulative aspect of this work and I appreciated my good design that made it even easier.
What was Challenging?
There are infinite design systems. To try to capture and compare all design systems is a Herculean task.
What would I do differently next time?
I am happy with how I designed and executed OP 5. Clearly, I can always do more; however, everything seemed good in this go round.
What are my next achievable steps?
1 Develop website
2 Write Permaculture Primer -- an introduction on my website and a book for the younger generation
3 Initiate workshop and nursery business in Baja
4 Bouquet making, cooking, Tai chi, surfing, propagation, starting a business, are all passions I am ready to give more time and energy to and I feel that I have time and space in my life to allow it to unfold.
LEARNINGS
Key Un/Learnings
OP Goal articulation can often be about incorporating tools of Gaia/metrics of PoDAPO and feedback from guild and advisor into the OP. This is separate than any of the things that we do as goals for the Core Report.
Awareness around the Holy Trinity of Design: Goals, Actionable Items and Outcomes
I am gaining much appreciation on the simple act of acknowledging:
Responding to an email confirming that it was received.
Gratitude/naming what someone is doing and honoring that.
I am continually amazed at how everybody hears different things.
Huge value in spending 5 minutes writing down what I believe was agreed upon and sending an email in that moment. HUGE value in naming what I heard. This is also a great practice for me with advising associates. Naming what I heard and sharing what I heard in an email with everybody else (and possibly requesting that everybody respond to that email.)
I usually end with concrete next steps and this is a tangentially very valuable tool to include.
Skillflex Assessment
Kolb Kite: Doing, Thinking, Reflecting, Experimenting
Doing -- Creating the Design comparison chart was the most doing aspect of this OP. I was glad this OP inspired me to compare and contrast all of my design methodologies used + many more that I have encountered.
Thinking -- Weaving my thesis and my life into the field of Applied Permaculture Design represents my use of thinking to create a meaningful coherent story that others can follow.
Reflecting -- A Highlight of this OP -- lots of wonderful reflection. I truly value the process of Reflection. And making that reflection explicitly articulate is hugely valuable for later in life. Concepts like Key outcomes/ Key learnings are crucial as no one has the time or energy to read through everything they produce; however, distilling those most meaningful pieces while still fresh in my mind is extremely valuable.
Experimenting -- As I have shared in previous OP's, Active Experimentation has become second nature during my Capstone phase. I did not see much need or space for experimentation in OP 5.