Hello Everyone,
A poem came to mind this morning, likely stemming from the flood of posts I saw on LinkedIn yesterday around layoffs.
Collective anxiety was both my bedfellow last night,
and alarm this morning.
I know not when the lamp will fade,
only that we can navigate the dark hand in hand.
There is no shame in this sleepless company,
searchers of the faint pulse of purpose.
Hope asks for no witness,
only that you keep your spark alive.
Interestingly enough, the sudden collective exhale made when pausing to take measure of our circumstances and decide what move to make seems to have acted as a bellows for my energy and focus.
Of course that would happen after not attending to my own creative fire as I should have.
No matter.
Have you heard of the fires that burn underground? Coals can continue to stay warm and burn even when buried under ash, soot, and soil, the reaction that causes flames to erupt slows down until more oxygen can be introduced.
There may be no visible light, it may be just warmth felt by touching the ground.
But the ember is still alive.
The uncertainty and chaos we are collectively moving through is thick and immobilizing. It may seem as though everything is burning down, that ash is clogging up our throats.
But though things may be collapsing, collapse does not equal extinguish.
Alone, exposed, a coal will burn out quickly.
Collapse can bring our collective embers closer together, keep each other lit.
So reach out to your people, bear the weight together.
Fresh air will come, and when it does …
Our combined fire will provide light and warmth to all.
A reminder that I will be going live at 10am EST on Friday, 10.31.2025, (Halloween!) for the weekly Cultivar Coffee Chat.
Join me to hang out and chat about the intersections between life and leadership, feel free to bring your own stories and questions.
Until Next Time,
Chris
Ooh this is good, Chris. Yes, when feeling weighed down by the world's heaviness, let's reach out and lean on each other. We can't fix it but we can listen.