I'm aware you subscribers have not heard from me in a while.
I spent 2021 caring for a loved one until his passing, and then got hit head-on by a drunk driver.
Ribs and sternum were broken, and needless to say I've been pretty shaken up; four months later I'm still mending but definitely progressing.
Coming out the other end of all this, slowly but surely, I find myself with the same passion, enthusiasm and inspiration for bridging work as when I started in 2017 .
Unfortunately, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is lagging behind.
I expect that someday soon-ish, the flesh will catch up with the spirit and I'll get all my mojo back.
In the meantime, my co-teacher Joe Burgo and I are continuing with our monthly on-going class "Cultivating Humility." We spent the fall classes "zooming in" on our personal operating systems.
We discussed cultivating humility, personal psychology, cognitive errors and what gets in the way of "zooming out," i.e. the ability to understand as many perspectives as possible by taking in true ViewPoint Diversity. All elements we consider fundamentally necessary in order to truly bridge.
In February through April we'll talk about "zooming out," exploring such topics as understanding polarization, the philosophical foundations of Left and Right (and what's "right" about both), and lastly we will take all that we've learned and apply them to a specific issue: Free Speech.
We have a great committed group going ... thanks to each and every one of you. You know who you are!
Joe and I are planning on starting another group in September 2022, following the same curriculum.
If you're interested, let us know and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.
Wishing you all a better New Year than the last!
Warmly,
Marla
WHO WE ARE Marla Estes founded The School of the Examined Life in 2007, giving workshops combining film watching with psychology. From 2017 to the present time, she has taught under the organizations Bridging the Divide and Building Bridgers, and has worked with several non-profits. Joe Burgo is a clinical psychologist who has practiced psychotherapy for more than 35 years. As a writer, he blogs for Psychology Today and is the author of several books focusing on psychological defense mechanisms, shame, and narcissism.
