I decided to create this blog for my dad for his birthday in the hope that this would be an interesting space for him to play in. One of the greatest gifts my dad has given me is a deep respect for Irreverence and the importance of Play in my own thinking. I am not saying that I always get it right; and am often reminded of those wise women from a certain Navaho tribe who are left alone for a year to think and impart only one message per year – the one which impacted on me profoundly was the one which said ,”Don’t take it personally. Or as my dad would say, “Don’t take it to kop.”
I am blessed to have a father who is also a mentor for me in terms of my thinking and engagement in the world. I am responsible for forecasting new trends in Executive Education for UCT GSB and it is often the links and e mails sent by my dad which allow me to start mapping the fragments of perception and perspective together and build programmes which have relevance and meaning for our market.
But more than the irreverence and play and the genuine ‘content’ pieces he sends me, the gift which I am the most gratefuly for is that of Gallasenheit – a concept he explained to me a number of years ago which is built on Heidegger’s notion of letting things be. I am one of those restless souls who likes to drive things and have found in my experience that it is often Away that I do the driving to. With Gallasenheit, I have an understanding which allows me to accept that the Universe does give back if you let it; if you let things be. Not for ever but for there to be enought time for a response. It has proven an invaluable talisman on my journey. Thanks Nnagh. Elaine
