To glisten: being present with others in ways that help them shine into their deepest color, purpose, and wisdom.
John Paul Lederach
We need to hear each other's stories
Have you been glistening lately?
Author, teacher and peace builder John Paul Lederach tells a story of how during lockdown he took himself off to a place in nature every morning to write a haiku. He noticed after some time that one word kept appearing in his writing. It was the word ‘glisten’. He reflected that perhaps as well as making sure we take time to listen, we should also learn how to glisten, which he describes as being present with others in ways that help them shine into their deepest color, purpose, and wisdom.
It reminds me of a quote attributed to Goethe: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.”
Glistening is a way of giving our attention so that people can shine into their true presence.
In a world of constant interruptions, growing divisions and increasing emotional volatility, taking a moment to fully listen to someone else’s story is a kind of super power, but one we are all capable of cultivating. It is about choosing to create small moments of peace and acceptance in our lives, for ourselves and others.
If you have come to this page you will have encountered one of our Invitations to Glisten at an event. We hope it prompted a heartfelt conversation that made you feel more connected to the person you shared with. And maybe you passed the prompt on to someone else and continued the thread of stories.
We would love to hear your experience, so please take a moment to share it below. Or you can contact [email protected] or connect with me on Linkedin
Inez Aponte,
Director
Crazy Beautiful World
Director
Crazy Beautiful World