mid-week Connect: 1/12/22 ~ Relaxing, around the world

Greetings and Happy Midweek!

As we are all jumping into the New Year (work and play and LIFE-wise) with resolutions still somewhat intact - I thought we would reflect for a few minutes together today on “taking a break” cross-culturally. Then we can bring whatever insights from others (“HOST”) we choose “HOME” to our own lives and practice - which nicely blends the first and second of our Global SKILLs focus dimensions in our 3D Dynamics model.*

With pandemic related stress levels off the charts for pretty much everyone on this globe, and the need day by day to put one foot in front of the other and get on with whatever we have to be doing - it’s refreshing to think about relaxing…and inspiring to see what others around us and around the world are in fact doing! I came across research on the benefits of “micro-breaks” in a western work context in my reading this week (see LINK below), and that brought me back to ways women in the Jola village where we lived used to relax even in the midst of all their daily chores. They would work hard from sunrise to sunset - and yet, they also had mastered the art of relaxation: by sitting together and chatting in one courtyard as they each cleaned and prepared the rice and other ingredients for meals; by singing and dancing as they cleared a field or planted; by sharing news and laughing together as they waited their turn to draw water from the communal well.

Where-ever we are and whatever our task, I think it behooves us to pause regularly and relax a bit - by ourselves or with others - so to then be able to continue through the day, refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes our way.

How about you ~ what is one cultural relaxation technique you want to adapt to your dynamic?

Share about that with a friend or note it here.

And check out the Global SKILLs LINKs below for some suggestions and inspiration!

Thanks for being part of this Connect community.

Until next week,

Betsy

* Global SKILLs 3 Dimensional Dynamics Model: 1st dimension = HOME & 2nd dimension = HOST (both of which we looked at today); 3rd dimension = HARBOR)

~ contact me for more information on this model and how you might use it in your current programming

Global SKILLs LINKs

~ An interesting article on stress management and relaxation practices from various cultures, with an intro comment about the dynamic of using filters to choose resources - which I do every week for these Global LINKs…I agree with the comment about West African drumming being deeply rooted culturally - but that doesn’t negate its relaxing qualities! http://ndcnews.org/2020/06/18/four-cultural-approaches-to-managing-stress/

~ an advertisement for jacuzzi tubs (in case you are in the market for one!)…but also some interesting relaxation techniques from several additional cultures https://www.jacuzzi.com/en-us/4-METHODS-DIFFERENT-CULTURES-USE-TO-RELAX.html

~ Blue Zones: a wonderful all around resource for wellness tips including this one on micro-breaks: https://www.bluezones.com/2022/01/taking-microbreaks-at-work-is-actually-a-good-thing

2022 ~ Celebrating 40+ years of working in

intercultural communications and global community building

“It takes a community to build a community”

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