Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

Normally, this may be referring to pearls of wisdom (and you can take it that way if you’d like) but my reference is to the the way nature forms pearls.

“Natural pearls form when an irritant – usually a parasite and not the proverbial grain of sand – works its way into an oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, a fluid is used to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating, called ‘nacre’, is deposited until a lustrous pearl is formed.”
Pearls.com

I was still thinking it was a grain of sand so I learned something in writing this one.

So…
What is your nacre? How do you take an irritant and make it a cherished thing of beauty? Better yet, if you fancy yourself a cultural alchemist, converting garbage to gold (you thought I was going to say something else, didn’t you) then what do you apply?

I would submit that the easiest answer is Love. It could take the form of education, financial investment, attention, a sense of belonging, role clarity, trust, autonomy or high purpose but however you define it, it takes serious energy and courage. The courage to push back on status quo, the courage to sacrifice others perception of you, your motives, or your passion. The courage to take the risks associated with the rewards of turning a collective downward spiral (often under the false impression that things are OK) to a positive, aware, functional enterprise on its way to being once again sustainable and successful by the most current definition.

“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”
Teddy Roosevelt

I chose not to place much focus on the parasite in the definition because we are all too familiar with the forms this dysfunction takes on; anger, deceit, jealousy, apathy…entitlement, poor judgement, blame, etc, etc.

I was recently introduced to a new term, “Embrace the dysfunction.” I bristled at the idea. I prefer to identify dysfunction then eradicate and rebuild. Then I started asking myself, “To what end?” The part I am warming up to is that this slightly slower conversion may be a minimal disruption technique. Rather than split the patients ribcage wide open to gain a grand view of the heart, it may be better to go up through the groin. Less invasive=more effective? Perhaps.
Less “healing”…if it works.

Let’s call this another tool in the belt.
or
Another pearl on the string.

Have a blessed weekend!