From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director – Awhile back I had great fun at a paint night fundraiser. I was amazed, it turns out that Mrs. Hutchinson was wrong when she gave me a D in grade 2 art… I totally painted a tree with fall leaves that looked unmistakably like a tree with fall leaves.

Also amazing to me was that the instructor had one model picture and gave us one single instruction set for each part of the art project. Yet, walking around the room at the end, no single tree resembled another. Each had different branches, different shades of colour, different shapes and different designs – all together different in some cases.

Two things were happening I think. Some people were interpreting the instructions differently without knowing so, while some were hearing what was said and then consciously doing their own thing. And isn’t that the case most of time? A room full of people hear the same message, but process the information through their own filters and take away different meanings. Or they hear the message, but knowingly dismiss some or all of it based on their own experiences that contradict.

It’s a funny old world because I am learning that everyone is right, everyone is entitled to what they know is right, and all interpretations of instructions are needed to make the robust tapestry of a rich community and organization.

And in case you are wondering, mine looked exactly as it was supposed to look.

From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford

I have been thinking a lot about teamwork this past week. I sometimes think that the term needs a makeover.

What does teamwork really mean? Of course, there is the old analogy that one piece of spaghetti is broken with almost no effort, whereas a whole pile is almost unbreakable even if a couple of pieces are weak inside the pile. Conversely there is the weakest link analogy, a long chain can be broken if only one link is not strong. So which is it – are we unbreakable noodles or a series of links ready to fall to pieces?

Here is my conclusion – both analogies are too passive. A team is neither links waiting to break or a bunch of spaghetti waiting for a disaster to strike. A team is about empowerment, respect, communication and common goals. A team is a collection or people with different skills, strengths, passions and weaknesses.

A team, in my opinion, is much more active, always rearranging – like a jazz band. It always sounds like its piece is rehearsed, polished and exactly right. Even if some members have an off-night or a few instruments are out of tune, together every solo, harmony and note fits perfectly – and no two performances are ever the same.

We’re better together. Many thanks for the part that you play in our song.

Teresa Jordan

From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director – What does it mean that parts of the continent are united for one day in colourful socks? Maybe not vast amounts of money or fashion forward trends, but it does mean that, for one day, there is a bit of fun, a bit of unity, a bit of awareness that there is a whole big world out there offering a myriad of challenges and strengths. I am always thrilled with any activity that we can do that makes our big and widespread agency feel a bit more like one place, and sock pictures from all corners definitely fit the bill.

Cormac Russell is coming to Peterborough April 20 and I am so excited. He speaks so well about building on strengths and coming together to make things better. He talks about the concept of addressing head-on the idea that there are big parts of society that are not used to having their gifts received. Just think about that in a world that we try to make better and more inclusive. What we are really up against is a society where someone’s role is only identified by a challenge or a barrier?

What we are really talking about here is building on strength, building on passions, building on what is strong. So whether it’s wearing socks to remember World Down Syndrome Day and/or accepting gifts that others may overlook or fail to value, this team has it going on.

Thanks for all you do – seeking gifts, developing talent and welcoming everyone’s style … much thanks!

From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director

A few weeks ago I first heard that a movie had been made of the book “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. Hearing that made me remember when I first read the book – in grade four, in Mrs. Simser’s English class. At the time, I had three brothers and, mixed with the adventure of travelling the universe, magic and family bonds with little brothers, I was entranced.

Needless to say, that was a lot of years ago, so on a recent trip to Chapters I picked up a copy of the book to read again. It is a children’s book, so a quick pick, and I read it on a quiet, sunny, Saturday morning a few weeks ago. Not quite exactly as I remembered – I guess I had embellished a few parts about the magic in my memory over the years – but still a story about family and love and courage brought back warm memories.

Later that weekend, I was meandering around my Facebook page and noticed a post from one of my few Facebook friends with whom I went to public school . It caught my eye because it was the same cover, same edition of the book in her photo and the caption read, “Took some time Saturday to reread this book – still just as magical as in Mrs. Simser’s grade four class.”

I am astounded at the level of coincidence! Now granted, interest in the book could be classed as universal with movie trailers all around, but to read the same edition on the same day, having read the book in the same place the first time? Synchronicity or coincidence, two girls in their forties unwittingly relived a part of grade four on the same day, one in Ontario, one in Florida, from exactly the same edition.

Part of the awe of this is, of course, that seeds of wonder planted by Mrs. Simser had resurfaced. I think that there is more wonder around than we  realize. Thanks, Mrs. Karen Simser and thanks, Janet Pearson, for reminding me that wonder, a good story and a cool coincidence are still very real parts of what makes life interesting.

Thank you, too, for the magic that you create each day,

Teresa Jordan

From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director

Netflix is completely changing how most of us watch TV shows and though I am slow coming to the party, I can binge watch with the best of them at times. Netflix is actually set up to keep you watching – the minute one episode ends the next starts; where you left off last time, it will begin again; and its always offering choices based on what you have already watched.

I have been watching a show called “Weekend Aristocrats” and it is more than amusing. First, you have to like old British estates and then you have to be entertained by old British Aristocracy. The thing that got me wondering this week is this – if Netflix is showing me a great list of shows based on what I watch, and Amazon is showing me a great list of items based on what I’ve bought, and Google is showing me ads based on what I’ve searched, it is becoming harder and harder to step outside of our patterns and learn new things.

There is that old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” It is potentially harder now than ever, in a world peppered with information at our fingertips, to purposefully entertain a brand new idea, try a brand new way of doing something or delve into a new kind of show or book that we would never otherwise considered. I guess this means that we have to dig deeper to not let technology lull us into our comfort zone, over and over again.

I think the trick is to seek out a brand new culture, a new perspective, a new way of looking at the world – and try new things. Maybe we should all go down the ethnic aisle at the grocery store, get a book from the mystery section if that’s not usually our thing, ask someone what they really feel about a subject – and then just think about their answer, without offering our perspective. At the very least, a little adventure could broaden our list of shows that we like on Netflix and open our minds to be just a little bit more aware of all the differences around us. Differences are at the heart of community.

For all you do, much thanks!

Teresa Jordan

From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director

Last weekend at the end of reading week for my daughter, she was invited to a gathering at a friend’s home. In the planning she was asked to pick up another friend from an apartment building in Lindsay where my daughter had never been. So, being of the age where everything is answered by Google, she searched the address. With the Google maps reference she was still unsure where the building was so she looked at the Google earth photo. As she looked at the building, she did the “pan around” option and not only recognized the house across the street but found herself looking at a photo of her very own grandfather cutting the grass. Needless to say, she knew where she was going.

The whole story made me laugh, but also made me think about all the times that we find ourselves in completely unknown circumstances or roles or situations or locations.
And even though we are quite nervous and disoriented, a careful review or observation
soon finds something familiar. In a crowded room of strangers, one familiar face; in a
complex project of unknown outcome, a comfortable method; in a world that seems hostile and not inclusive, a safe haven of accessibility and community.

I know I now have yet another helpful mantra – if feeling a little lost, unsure or confused, take a moment, pan around and look for Grandpa Wally on a lawnmower. Doubtless he will be there, closer than I can imagine.

For all you do, and find and seek out, I thank each of you.

The weather lately has been quite a story. My own little swampy road is completely under water now for a few days and I could almost canoe to the Janetville city centre. That is how it is – we have all kinds of technology, smart phones, smart TV’s, smart homes, but the weather continues to be completely beyond our “smart” command.

It has been difficult driving and twice I have been on the road with very thick fog – the kind with which you are not sure what is ahead and you are equally afraid that what is behind is not going to notice your car in time to slow down, and you are not completely sure where you are even though you are on familiar roadways. I was on the 115 highway and I could see just barely through the thick fog that there was a dim orange light on the shoulder. Knowing that there was often a sign there I paid particular attention to try to read what it said, in case there was a road closure or an important notice. Straining to see I slowly moved through the fog that was hiding the message from view. At the last second, I was able to read it: “Fog may be possible.”

Spectacularly helpful sign!

That being said, there are often very helpful signs on the road. But sometimes when we are in the thick of a problem, a sadness, a change, we’re already pretty sure about the conditions of the path and a sign confirming the trauma is not that helpful. Journeying through life and work and relationships can be so hard sometimes, with plenty of uncertainty and unexpected calamities. I guess all we can try to do is drive through in a way that watches out for others and allows for others to drive safely too – and watch for the signs. Although, I think the one thing we can count on in our travels through this life – “Fog may be possible”.

Thanks so much for all you do each day on the journey.

For the last few nights I have spent time looking at the stars. There has been that magical combination of not too much moonlight interference and a clear sky on white snow. I am always amazed by stars and their light, knowing full well that the night sky I am now seeing does not exist anymore due to how long light takes to travel. All that aside, these last few nights I have felt like I could reach up and snap Orion’s belt like my grandpa’s suspenders, it has seemed so close.

A few years ago when my kids were small, we endeavored to sleep on the trampoline. I say endeavor because we eventually went in the house for the night – too many bugs and our neighbor down the road plays drums at night – who knew? We were stargazing for hours, and that is a real game changer when it comes to star gazing. You feel immersed, you see nebulas and blankets of stars that you miss in a passing glance, satellites and meteors. Millions and millions of stars felt like they closed in all around us and the effect was magical. I feel like the important thing here was the time spent in the looking, that undistracted examination. What seemed like a hundred bright stars turned into millions of stars once my gaze settled and I let my eyes adjust.

There is a lot going on all the time at work, home, school, and everywhere that you connect in community. A second glance, a little time in examination, a couple extra questions in almost every situation go a long way in helping us all to see what may have been at first hidden. There are so many gifts and opportunities all around, we just have to settle in, slow down and look deeply for the opportunities will shine bright enough to catch our notice and change what we thought we knew – or what we thought would be our next step. With all the work of amalgamation, there is still so much magic in getting to know the communities, the people and the processes – shining stars by the millions. For all you do each day, thanks so much; you brighten the corners where you are.

I live in the woods. Sometimes I wish I could see the sweeping sunsets or feel the wind as it gathers speed, but overall I like be nestled among trees. I do see some wildlife, but I am always astounded that, in the winter, my yard is covered in tracks. I can see that we have been visited by rabbits, weasels and lots of birds, turkeys, deer – even coyotes. Maybe their visit was brief or they know what time to walk about unseen, but in the wintertime they leave their trace in the footprints and I know that they are around and have been through the yard.

This past week, we had the sad news that a long-time volunteer for our Northern Learning Centre passed away after a brief illness. I was so saddened as I had just recently attended the Christmas gathering in Fenelon and spent time with him and the others there. My main purpose in going to the luncheon was to make sure that I could thank all of the volunteers for their hard work, but Eugene would have none of that. He quickly turned the appreciation spotlight back to others, the staff and the agency. He filled the room with his appreciation, gratitude and Christmas cheer – and he and his wife made sure that everyone felt comfortable and full of turkey.

Eugene was so passionate and engaged with the group. As a man of faith, he said grace and gave thanks that we could all be together and learn from one another.

I am not pretending that I knew Eugene well or that I know much about him – but in his time on this earth Eugene left his mark, volunteering his time in his retirement to our little group in Fenelon. In his whole long life this was probably a small engagement. But like those footprints in the snow he taught me about dedication, appreciation, corny humour and faith, and these lessons leave an indelible trace. Footprints will remain in the hearts of the whole group in Fenelon and wherever else Eugene chose to sojourn.

Thanks to everyone for all of the places that you travel, that you explore, that you support others to go. You leave traces of your passion and inspiration all over our three communities.

For all that you do each day, much thanks.

Teresa Jordan