A couple of people on an Event recently were asking about how I make sure participants don’t reveal the ‘secrets’ behind Fulcrum Events and the various activities. Surely, if the solutions or answers are shared, this can extinguish the elements of surprise and achievement. However, sometimes sharing learning, information and ideas actually aids subsequent Events.
We used a simplified form of public key encryption to transmit a message securely and I said I’d share the protocol, so here it is.
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice, there is."
Yogi Bera (apparently...)
See the link for other Yogiisms, including "Pair up in threes" and "We made too many wrong mistakes"
‘Through dialogue, new meaning evolves as we compare and contrast how we have come to know what we know. Our shared stories create communities of intentional healing and hope…When people share their stories without others imposing meanings on them, this creates social change’ (Mead & Filson, 2016, p.109). Our Events engage people in dialogue through careful questioning…
Isolation and loneliness can be fatal. Julianne Holt-Lunstad and colleagues suggest that the harmful effects of loneliness are akin to the harm caused by smoking, obesity or alcohol misuse. The article is reviewed by the NHS here.
The flip side is that a crucial element in reducing the risks associated with isolation and loneliness, as well as reducing other risks such as sustained problematic drug use, is connection. As Johann Hari says in this brilliant video (at 5.01), "the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." Have a watch of his TED Talk too.
At FULCRUM, we aim to provide opportunities for connection to be identified, motivation and courage for connection to be fostered and the skills for promoting connection to be grown.
Being able to connect with others not only reduces the risk of early death but also brings the attributes that were previously isolated out into the community, benefitting the community too. Some ideas for connecting from NHS here.
FULCRUM Events can transform the lives of people who may be facing multiple disadvantages and are locked out from the 'goods' of society. Our unique way of leveraging change for such groups is to use an Event with them to facilitate personal learning, interpersonal connection and group cohesion, experiences that have often been beyond reach until now…
Our Summer 2018 Open Event will soon be ready and waiting for you.
Watch this blog for details of ticket release - we're operating a Tiered system this year, Tier 1 is the best discount of up to 80%!! Tier 3 will still be heavily discounted and is scheduled for the latest available bookings.
The website is nearly done!
It's taken time, lots of learning and creativity. We hope you find it useful and even enjoy it. Look out for hidden secrets and let us know what you think.
Thanks to all those involved - you've been an inspiration xx
