“Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.”
Brené Brown
To kick off the new calendar year, Adventure has been exploring the question, “What is wholehearted living and why does it matter to me?” Our guiding north star in this exploration is the work of researcher, author, and speaker Brené Brown, specifically her 10 Guideposts of Wholehearted Living. Brown’s trailblazing work has sparked a movement of increased empathy and connection. Having experienced critical growth in my own journey because of her research, and seeing her work positively change the lives of others, I couldn’t move past the idea of sharing Brown’s data and stories with Adventure. Inviting 24 middle schoolers to be vulnerable and talk about how to let go of unhealthy behaviors and cultivate connection? Challenge accepted!
Our deep dive began with simply introducing vulnerability, which Brown defines as “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.” After discussing how vulnerability is crucial for connection, authenticity, courage, and resilience, learners were asked which one they thought was the most important for living a fulfilling life. Then, they were challenged to contemplate Brown’s quote, “Vulnerability is not weakness. In fact, I would argue it’s our greatest measure of courage.” Following Brown’s 10 Guideposts of Wholehearted Living, so far, learners have discussed the following: letting go of what people think and cultivating authenticity; letting go of perfectionism and cultivating self-compassion; letting go of numbing and powerlessness and cultivating a resilient spirit, letting go of scarcity and cultivating gratitude and joy; and letting go of the need for certainty and cultivating intuition and faith. I could share several of the thoughts that learners have expressed during our discussions, thoughts that have truly indicated deep thinking and consideration; instead, I’m going to share a story.
Imagine this. It’s a humid, overcast Thursday morning. After two hours of focusing on Morning Work, learners are beginning to buzz around the studio, indicating they are ready to transition to the next thing on the schedule. The Community Meeting Leaders call for everyone to circle up and begin taking us through our sign-up list. The studio brainstorms solutions to several issues, a learner shares a speech in American Sign Language for a skills badge, and another learner shares a book pitch. Though we veer off topic a few times, the Community Meeting Leaders manage to refocus the group. We make it to the final name on the Community Meeting list and the learner begins to share. They speak openly, honestly, and calmly about something that has been bothering them in the studio. They voice their perspective and feelings on the matter, and make their boundaries clear. When they finish, they call on another learner, opening the floor for comments or questions. In response to this learner’s vulnerability, learners share the following:
I’m sorry if I had a part in this.
I take responsibility for my actions and know I wasn’t the most kind yesterday. I’m sorry.
I’m sorry if I made you feel this way, and you’re really brave for sharing this in Community Meeting.
I agree! This was really brave.
I’m sorry. I’ve experienced this before, too.
You’re right. It has gone on too far, and I’m so sorry.
I didn’t realize it really hurt your feelings. I’m sorry.
I think we can all agree that we need to be more mindful about how we treat each other.
At the end of the meeting, everyone applauded this member of our community, and they walked to lunch together with smiles on their faces.
This is not to say the Adventure Studio is perfect. We have moments that do not reflect the scene described above; however, what’s important is that we’re learning. We’re learning to be brave. We’re learning to be kind. We’re learning how to live together. This moment was a huge milestone for our studio and serves as a clear depiction of courage, empathy, and kindness. I can’t wait to see how Adventure will continue to grow and create a community of belonging, inside and outside of TVS.
villageschoolnova.blog 