Day: June 14, 2003

the business of life – BALLE is not volunteers, committee members, network members, stewards, yada yada… BALLE is an organization of owners of regional vitality. anyone can claim their share of ownership by investing themselves and their business practice (including financial support) in the vitality of the region as a whole. BALLE is cultivating economic, community and environmental quality of life. Penny Scott and I wrote this for BALLE BritishColumbia/Canada, but BALLE is coming to Chicago, too.

Own the regional quality of life. Own your own business. Own your business practice. Own the regional returns.

“Are you a member of BALLE?”

“Well, no, actually… I’m an owner.”

“What do you mean? I thought it was a non-profit alliance or network.”

“It is. A national/international alliance of local/regional networks…. in each place, BALLE is a growing microcosm that represents, and will ultimately grow to include, every business person in the area (even if it’s name and structure morph significantly in the process of that growth). Each local/regional network represents the vitality, quality of life, etc. of the whole area. I’m an owner because I’ve invested my whole business in the regional ecomony, community and environment. I’m managing my business as my share of our quality of life.”

beyond control – it’s not about dessert or drinks. or the money. or sex. not the project deadlines, the curriculum, the protocol. it’s about control, or more specifically still… my persistent lack of it. i want what i want and i want it now. but who cares? …and therein lies the answer, i think.

who cares? do you care? of course you do… but about what? food, pleasure, things? is this what i’m working so hard for? or isn’t there something more, something deeper, going on? what is it that I really want? what is it that allows the tangle of neurons and muscles at the base of my skull to rest, relax and release? eyes and throat softening? what is it that eases by heart and loosens my grip on the wheel? and the keyboard? what is it that allows me to rock and roll and move in the direction of flourishing?

suds. crunch. squish. sand. toes. scooping oatmeal into steaming pot. stretch. time out. shutdown. jiggle. chop chop chop chop. yawn. yes. laugh. touch. irises. sleep. windchimes. wisdom teachers. moving water. sunshine, thank you. i am noticing and accepting such things as kindness. caring that supports sharing. the tiniest moments of aaaaahhhhhh… publish. caring. beyond control.