– Recognition of the metaphor of the life of the frog that jumps from lily pad to lily pad. One begets the next and the transition from one to the next is both mysterious and profoundly important.
– The importance of humility in recognizing what came before and in being willing not to know exactly what happens next.
– The importance of gratitude for being able to be present and being open to all that’s happening beyond self.
– You never know who’s in the audience and what they will bring that impacts and informs where we are going.
– Taking the risk that “this” might not be the end but just the next chapter.
– The connections we make with others, as any project develops, will shape and reshape what happens next.
– A good book in context of planning: Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott. Also Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell; and Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein.
– “How you spread your interests is how you master your craft,” Brandon
– Question: How do we meet our challenges within the resources of our daily lives?

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The folks in this circle seemed to me to be quite experienced and clear in how the best laid plans can and will change as they move from intention into practice. Their stories and reflections revealed a capacity for emergent strategies. Their insights and practical (if not personal) engagement will need to applied in practice as the next Arts and Culture strategic plan takes shape, is shared and adopted by the many communities of Roanoke and moves into implementation over the years of its vision.

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