My Worldview/Headspace

My Essence or 'Brand'

My Values, Passions and Needs

My Teachers

My Strengths and Struggles

My Signature Projects

Lotta

Daddy

Mummy

David and his sister, Beth

With Christine - still playing together after all these years ...

My babies . . .
when they were babies!

Daniel

Matthew

Ninja family!- Daniel, Rachael and Natalya (Lizzie's daughter)

Rachael

Since I believe that EVERY interaction I have provides me with an opportunity to learn, this is (of course!) only a partial list ... however, there have been a number of people who's influence I particularly want to acknowledge.  If for any reason, your name is not here and you know it should be, I hope you'll be like my daughter Rachael, who on not finding her name on my initial list (I hadn't yet got to THAT part of my life!) took the initiative of adding her own name!  So let me know!  It would be a great opportunity for us to connect and for me to consciously appreciate the gift you have been in my life.

To these, and MANY OTHERS, I offer my thanks and love.

Lotta - who as my live-in Nanny loved and looked after me until I was 7.  She was the sower in me of the seeds of some core belief systems.  From her I learned by osmosis that I was loved and special, that I was valuable - precious, that I could expect my needs to be met, that I would be given the resources to face whatever was before me, and that the way society (or any individual) viewed me had no bearing on my value.

Daddy - although he was absent from us (at work) a lot of the time when we were kids, he was the one who came to comfort and care for us when we called for help in the night.  And even though he often struggled in understanding why others' choices were different from his own, taught by example a profound respect for every human being with whom he came into contact.

Mummy - in an age and society in which women were primarily behind the scenes, I learned from my Momma both in deed, and in word, that she (and by extension I) had many important ideas to offer to the world.  From her I also learned about love in action - about loving without regard to whether you were in agreement with the other's choice of action.

Auntie Winnie and Uncle David - who lived beside us when I was a child.  They had been married later in life, were childless, and became part of our extended family.  They shared with us many things in their lives that expanded my horizons - their ever present Boxer dogs, their orange blossom honey, Auntie Winnie's home made hams, flower decorating skills, and interest in horse racing, Uncle David's stamp collection, cigars and pipes, and interest in politics, and their wider circle of acquaintances which (among other things) allowed us the occasional visit to Government House in Barbados (the country in which I was born and grew up.)

Mrs. Jordan - my High School Geography teacher.  She taught me to delight in the variety we find in the landscape on this earth (who would have thought that what appears to be as solid as a mountain range could be folded and moulded as they are? - plenty of life lessons in this one!).  But more than that, in a society where fitting in was an important value, this elegant, unique (some would have said eccentric!) woman, modeled for me the value of being true to herself by being comfortable in her own skin.  A huge gift.

Douglas - who I see and love as an older brother.  Expressed a joy in living (a type of carefree extravagance) that was new to me.  He also was the first person I knew who when he woke up to the deliciousness of ideas about which he was passionate, really pursued this path, and in doing this opened for me a whole new range of possibilities.

Mrs. Wood - one of the many people who invited me into their homes and lives when as an 18 year old and had come to Canada for the first time to go to Nursing School.  In a city where I had no family, this remarkable woman (who's husband had met my father when he was in Barbados on business) warmly welcomed me into her already busy and full home and family.  She (they) gave me a place to belong, and taught me about sharing without expecting anything in return.  I have often remembered this in later years when I have had the opportunity to do the same thing.

David - wonderer, wanderer and storyteller - for 35 years my husband, and the father of our three children. He precipitated in me expansion of horizons and clarification of thinking as none other, and though we are no longer married, I care for and deeply appreciate. 

Daniel, Matthew and Rachael - my children, from whom I learn daily!  I long ago decided that the primary purpose of children was to create many opportunities for the stretching and growth of parents!  Their being, growing, and engaging in and with the world has often caused me to stop and wonder about my own certainties, and many times see the wisdom in holding on to life with a looser grasp.  (see My Writing - When the Stick Turned Blue)  They have also taught me about slowing down, and taking time to snuggle and breathe, and (even though they are growing up fast) I am still learning more from them about how to play as I live!

Lizzie - who at a time when I was prepared to begin to let go of the illusion that everything was fine and explore new (more authentically Maralyn) ways of being, challenged me to wonder about my life.  Another of those wonderful people who helped me learn that fitting-in with the establishment need not be a prime directive.

The Logos Community - when I was first wondering  who I really was and what I had to offer to the world, this group of people gave me a place to offer my gifts and perspectives, expanded my horizons in the areas of faith and facilitation (back then a new way of leading and learning), and gave me opportunity to put all this into practice.

Harold - who gave me a gift of experiential learning when he asked me to develop a course to help others identify their gifts for ministry.  At the time, neither of us had any way of knowing the enormity of that gift to me - not only was this process the way I began to name and recognize my own gifts, but the questions raised in the course (realizing my personality, passions, and gifts) have become the basis of all my work.  In addition, it was through Harold's example that I began to learn how to articulate my faith in real words, and to begin to think about articulating my thoughts succinctly (sometimes still struggle with that one!)

Birgit and Dalton - together and individually have offered me learning experiences both formal (in the facilitation training I have done with them), and informal in the work we subsequently shared over the years.  As time has passed, my working relationship with Birgit has developed into a deep and trusting friendship in which we have learned (and continue to learn) much from each other, and for which I am extraordinarily thankful.

John Savage - who through his own carefully prepared course material, taught and enabled me to share with others much of what I know about communication skills, and whose gift in introducing me to the practice of Story Listening has been crucial in my ability to understand both myself and others.  You can find out more about him and his organization LEAD Plus at this web site.

Matt and Kathleen - together we have experienced the most powerful sense of true community I have known. (In his book The Different Drum, Scott Peck speaks of community as "a group of individuals who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure, and who have developed some significant commitment to "rejoice together, mourn together" and to "delight in each other, make others' conditions our own."")  This is a learning and gift I deeply value, and just touches the tip of all I've received and learned from them.

David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney - who trained me in Appreciative Inquiry, an organizational development process that resonated with the core of my being, and gave me words, tools and a community of practitioners who continue to explore and articulate something that I value highly - practical ways of discovering those enduring learnings that exist in every situation, the enacting of which allows us to create more of what we want in our lives. The Appreciative Inquiry Commons is their contact point.

Gay and Katie Hendricks - whose book Conscious Loving was put into my hands at a crucial point in my life.  From them (both from their writing and in person) I have learned much about paying attention to the cues my body is giving me, about having the courage to feel all my feelings (and allow others to feel theirs!), to risk speaking (rather than withholding) the truth of my own experience, and about balancing power and creating healthy relationships where each individual accepts complete responsibility for themselves and the relationship.  Core understandings that I continue to practice and learn about!  You can contact them at www.hendricks.com.

Christine - my sister and trusted friend with whom (particularly over the last few years) I have more closely shared my life.  She is for me a sounding board, and safe place to vent. And she is a gentle model in teaching me some of those organizational skills which she seems to come by naturally.  I seem to have been absent (or not paying attention!) when those gifts were being handed out! More recently, we (along with her girls and her partner Paul) have learned as we've lived together in an extended 'family' setting - an extraordinary gift for me.

Charlie Goedken - my first coach has been another invaluable receiver and reflector of my processing; who wondered deeply with me as I explored, clarified and articulated both what I believe, and what I want, and unfailingly encouraged me to "Trust. It all fits."

Thomas Leonard - visionary coach and leader, who died at 47, long before the rest of us thought it was time, and who although I only knew from a distance, constantly inspired me to clarity of thought and word, and greater scope of action. You can get a taste of his prolific ideas at www.thomasleonard.com.

Tom Stone - inspired pioneer and teacher, who has provided me with a framework (The Core Dynamics) and one of the tools (the WaveMaker™) that have become part of the foundation for much of the work that I do. You can find out more about his work at Great Life Technologies here.

HAI - The Human Awareness Institute - founded in 1968 by Stan Dale. In offering their workshops exploring love, intimacy and sexuality, HAI lives out their mission statement to empower individuals to be potent, loving, contributing human beings. HAI promotes personal growth and social evolution by replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love. HAI aims to create a world where people live together in dignity, respect, understanding, trust, kindness, compassion, honesty and love. All values that are dear to my heart. Beyond the workshops, the HAI community has for me become extended family.

Bruce - for many years friend, and more recently my partner. Long ago, he promised to support my wellbeing for the rest of his life. And in living out that promise has both supported me and called me out to be more fully 'me' in more ways than I can count. He described being in love as "challenge, in the best way!" I am thankful to have him as my learning partner in undefended loving.

The recorded word - written, spoken, in film and video, and now on computer has all my life been a significant teacher.  I am SO thankful for the many gifted human beings who have shared their thoughts and discoveries in this way, and in doing so profoundly affected my life.

My Clients - both formal and informal who have over the years been a huge gift and resource, as together we have (in various moments - though sometimes all at the same time!) learned and laughed, created and cried.  My deep gratitude to you all.  

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