I spent most of the last two days working on a course paper about leadership and hospitality particularly as the latter may or may not occur in digital settings. It was interesting, but reciprocity and trust are critical in community building. They emerge out of hosting one another and making contact in some real way.
Virginia Satir, a psychologist and poet wrote this poem about the need to reach and touch one another in relationships. We create meaning through meaningful contact. It is easier to build community in face-to-face settings, but not impossible in virtual settings.
I believe
The greatest gift
I can conceive of having
from anyone
is
to be seen by them,
heard by them,
to be understood
and touched by them.
The greatest gift
I can give
is
to see, hear, understand
and to touch
another person.
When that is done
I feel
contact has been made.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 