Six months is a long time to be away from home. One of the things that has helped ease my occasional pangs of longing for home has been aikido practice. Being warmly welcomed into two aikido dojos in Spain has really made me think about what it takes for a club, a team, or a workplace to be inclusive to outsiders—because I've been an outsider for many months now. I have always enjoyed helping people to feel included, and now I am grateful to be receiving the same help.
Knowing there have also been anti-tourist protests in parts of Spain during this time has added to my awareness of ‘outsiderness’, and the potential for being viewed as the enemy by some or at least resented. I am even more grateful for those who welcome us, teach us their style of aikido with joy and patience, and offer genuine friendship.
This experience has been a source of valuable lessons as I prepare my upcoming TEDx Bells Beach talk: The Power of Connection During Conflict.
I look forward to seeing some of you at TEDx Bells Beach in person on October 14th, 2024. The program looks fabulous, I'm excited to share my talk and to hear from all of the speakers on the day. Please join us if you can!
Tickets available at https://tedxbellsbeach.au/
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