Sensory overload

...humans are unable to understand new information without the bias of their previous knowledge. A person's knowledge creates his or her reality as much as the truth. Maurice Merleau

New York is a city of sensory overload. Sights, sounds, smells. Rain falling. Puddles. Dripping. Umbrella dances down the street. Up and down. Avoiding, colliding, edging around each other.

We don't get rain like this in Calgary. Rain that pours and puddles and drips. Rain where the umbrella is a prerequisite. Where rubber boots become the latest fashion statement.

I don't own a pair of rubber boots. It appears that every woman in new York does. Where the ubiquitous sneaker once reigned, they've become the latest fashion statement.

And then there's the conference. Five hundred delegates from over 30 countries. Social workers, activists, artists, performers.

New York is a city of change. Leading edge innovations, startling interpretations of art and history.

This conference isn't about change in the way we know it. It's not about changing governments or opinions or the way we act.

It's about evolutionary change. Changing what we do in this world to create a sustainable future -- based on the arts as the catalyst for communication, the bridge for understanding, the path to and through community building.

Last night Onalea Gilbertson (my co-presenter) and I spent the evening sitting over a bottle of wine and a plate of amazing pasta, working on our presentation. We haven't had the opportunity in the past few months as she's been on a cross-Canada tour and flew in from Toronto the same day I arrived from Calgary. As we talked about the sessions we'd sat through we both agreed -- there's so much vital and necessary work being done in this world. So many people committed to creating a better place -- isn't it grand!

We are not alone.

It is so easy to believe I am -- alone. In my desire to hold a space for those struggling at the margins of our society to find a level field.

I am not alone.

This conference holds a space for all who are seeking to evolve our communities to kinder more caring places. Places where everyone has a voice. Everyone finds their place.

I'm off for another day of learning and expanding and growing.

I won't be blogging tomorrow nor Monday -- I'll look forward to sharing and connecting Tuesday.

Hope your weekend is filled with lots of connections, lots of connecting to the best of you with the best of everyone around you. Hope you find that special place where you know -- you matter.

Because you do.

we all do.

Nameste.