Aug 21 2009
The Global Brain Ecosystem: Kindness (Alchemy Lab #3)
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It was my extreme privilege to attend the 14th Anniversary gathering of the Brain Exchange last night, in El Cerrito, CA.
I have to say this may be the easiest Alchemy Lab I’ll ever write. The connection and chemistry arose intact and it just wants to flow right onto the page. All I’m doing is keeping my hands on the keyboard.
You can learn more about the Brain Exchange on the website. What I want to convey here is the profound sense of connectedness I have today.
A call from the distant past
You know I’m always talking about connectedness and the tremendous tools we now have for building community, solving problems, and innovating. I can clearly see a thread here, a calling-out from the distant past through women’s work and women’s way of connecting community, going back for thousands of years.
What happened
At the Brain Exchange, we were led through a practical process which brainstormed the heck out of a few of our challenges. There’s only time for 6 or 7 questions to be worked on. The brainstorming was like an avalanche. The individual who had the challenge had a new challenge: to sit and receive ideas. (Not as easy as it sounds.) This group of 30 plus women at last night’s meeting has about a thousand years’ worth of resources to offer to almost any problem. This is pure, heart-fueled, brain-based innovation.
So my second point is about diversity. Last night, we brainstormed with a 16 year old on innovative ways to stand out on her college applications. I wonder how she’s feeling today. We also brainstormed on an older woman’s extreme situation having suffered stroke, and now facing surgery, six weeks of recovery, and a home that is about to enter foreclosure. I’ll refrain from further details, of course, to preserve the confidentiality of our gathering. But I think you’ll get from this example what I’m about to say.
My reflection: Twitter came from women’s legacy
While I sat and looked around the room during the avalanche directed at my question (how lucky was that?) I realized, with a flush of emotional joy, “This is exactly like Twitter!”
Like Twitter, if you know how to use it.
Like Twitter in that people continue to gather by the hundreds to pour helpful solutions and connections on every problem they can spot.
Like Twitter in that strangers meet, open their hearts, give all they can, and go away deeply connected.
Maybe this is one reason why Twitter has a difficult entry portal for many people. It’s almost instantaneous intimacy.
That thread I see is women connecting and informing each other how to connect. It’s deep work. And I imagine (oh, I do imagine), that Twitter is what it is because we have known how to do this for millennia. And we’ve brought it forth and made it digital. And the wholeness of it is spreading exponentially now.
It’s spreading organically: In living rooms, among strangers, through laptop screens and iPhone apps and on into a vast global-brain ecosystem made of kindness.
I hope you’ll consider participating, if you are not already.
Blessings galore,
Suzanna Stinnett
What’s an “Alchemy Lab?” Cloud Alchemy: A Thinking Heart
Follow me on Twitter: Brainmaker
Listen to my audio about your web presence: Spoken For You
Come to a Twitter class – and plant trees! Twitter for the Trees
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August 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Nice job you’ve done on your site – are you having fun with it? It’s interesting and well worth the time to visit.
August 24th, 2009 at 6:16 am
I don’t get very well the concept here, so I believe people may disagree with it.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Thanks for the great article here at your blog. I know it will help me and many others.
August 24th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I was not aware of this before I read about it here. So glad people are working together to solve this problem.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:51 am
This may seem strange but I couldn’t see the image above, I am using FireFox 2. anyways, what I read was very good and I enjoyed it. I was thinking about print it out, do I have permission to do that?
Suzanna’s reply:
Hi!
Just getting to my comments today. Thank you for checking in. I’m not sure why you couldn’t see the image, it is showing up when I test it.
As for printing, yes, you are welcome to print my blogs. If you forward it or use it elsewhere, please just be sure to attribute it with a link back to me. Thank you for asking!
Cheers,
Suzanna Stinnett
August 29th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Thanks all for your comments, I appreciate them. Yes, this is a new concept, and while I understand it well – that’s because it’s in my brain. My job is to keep working to make it clear to others. Basically, what I see going on via all our online interactions is a new capacity to connect to each other and literally think together. Real-time technology tools make this possible. I’m excited about all the potential for doing good, and I want to further that where I can.
Thank you all for reading and commenting. This is what keeps things fresh and alive on the blog!
Be well,
Suzanna Stinnett
December 28th, 2009 at 12:52 am
I {don’t usually|usually don’t|rarely|barely ever|tend not to} {comment|post|make comments|make posts|reply to posts|comment posts} on {blogs|websites|threads|wp blogs|sites|blog sites|blogger sites}, {but|however} your {post|comment|blog post|topic|thread|blog topic} was {very|extremely|really|unbelievably} {informative|interesting|thought provoking|alluring|curious|compelling|gripping|impressive|stimulating} {and|&} {inspired|compelled|encouraged|convinced|motivated} {me|myself} to do {a little|some|extensive|tons of|lots of|thorough} thinking on how I can give back to those in need and I have decided to do a random act of kindness. I donated to akinder.us regardless of how short my funds are right now, it felt really good to help someone out.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:28 am
Sarah,
Thank you for letting us know that you decided to donate as a way of being more connected. That’s so powerful. Some brain research has shown the physiological benefits of donating to help others, whether it’s time, money, friendship, or other ways. There are many kinds of benefits.
Your comment has a wild aspect to it with strings of optional words included. I don’t know if that is a programming thing or just how you write, but I decided to leave it as is because I found it fascinating. Apologies to those of you who find it crazy-making – that would be understandable too.
Best,
Suzanna