The recording above is from over the weekend, and though I’d love to narrate the whole thing I wrote below, I don’t have the energy. But I’m hopeful that you’ll have the energy to finish reading on your own after I get you started <3 Looking forward to hearing from YOU!
I show up several different ways.
Social Media — Formal social media, in my mind, is a web platform with the intention of engaging humans in the virtual world. Back in the day we had AOL, then instant messenger, then blogs and Myspace, then Facebook. I was in college when facebook was new. I stopped engaging on FB Proper several years ago as I noticed I didn’t like the version of myself I saw when I was on there. A few years later I created an Instagram as I had family/friends who were sharing pictures and I felt left out/disconnected and was looking for a way to reengage virtually. I have spurts of watching on IG, and fewer spurts of posting. I created a public account with my real name, and felt very daring doing so. Now I keep getting followed by accounts that look like bots. I’m not even posting and they’re following me. Seems calculated. Algorithmic. Like, I try to take a dip in social media. And then I either don’t like the feeling, or I like it and before I know it I’m drowning in an abundance of content. I don’t know how to interact. I try, it feels like it’s missing a piece, and I set it aside again. I keep finding myself lost.
Substack — I’m noticing this to be a different form of what I’d consider “social media”. Substack is also a web platform meant to engage humans in the virtual world, but is doing it in a more nourishing way than traditional “social media”. Some folks who post have many followers, they engage their readers in conversation in the comments, and seem to be building a community in the virtual world. Substack appears to be an opportunity to connect people and ideas across the vast depths of the internet, without the mean trolls (or fewer of them) lurking outside of a paywall. A paywall is a fee (monthly, annually, lifetime) that content creators (like a Substack writer) can use to charge the reader/consumer for their content. Like a subscription to a magazine, but with some more options. Paywalls let the creator decide how to let money talk: providing their content free for all (trolls included), or charging a FEE for all and asking the consumer to decide if this content is worth X number of moneys (a month, a year, or a one-time fee for lifetime access). Paywalls are like bridges, they keep the trolls out (or give them a place to hide underneath and scare people by popping out unexpectedly).
In Real Life (IRL) — My favorite way to show up. My most essential self. My whole self. Raw. In the moment. Meaty flesh deciding how to move and act, without forethought or planning an article at a time. A sentence. A post. Content. Contentment. I write to myself in journals, I write to others in letters or stories. I put pencil, pen, marker, paint, mess on paper and look at it come to life before my eyes. I plant seeds to do the same. The same reason I have conversations. Planting and nurturing the gardens of ideas in our minds. Medicine for our spirits. Grounding each other as we connect. The piece that’s missing when I continue to try to engage virtually is CONNECTION. I cannot recreate this organic material in a digital world. I am a MATERIAL GIRL. Made of stuff. Cells. Particles. Thoughts. Ideas. Star stuff.
When I show up In Real Life (IRL), it’s like a delicious stew coming together one ingredient at a time. Sometimes it’s a simple soup, like IRL chicken noodle. Broth, meat, noodles. Bring to a boil, then simmer. Quick, comforting, nourishing, easy.
Why not jazz it up next time? Start with some onions, carrots, celery — get those simmering in some warm butter. Fresh seasoning from the garden, like sage or thyme. A bit of pepper. A hint of salt. Mmm…. It takes a bit more work, but holy moly is it worth it to bring these ingredients together IRL.
Well let’s just get crazy, shall we?? How about next time, instead of chicken broth, we use crushed tomatoes (maniacs!!). The thick, tangy flavors melding into a stew instead of a soup. Well hang on, how about some beans? A spicy pepper? Wait… this isn’t soup, it’s CHILI!!! Just like that, same pot, different ingredients, and another quick, comforting, nourishing meal for the spirit… IN REAL LIFE.
Which brings me to the reason for today’s post. [I’m tangential, remember, but I’m always bringing us somewhere (even if we never get there).]
I have been noodling (hahaha - chicken noodle… get it?) on an idea intermittently over the last several years. I had created a “pool of shared giving” model for care in the community, but kept getting STUCK. This next section is going to paint a picture of how an amazing stew of human ideas is coming together, and I’m asking you to take a taste AND THEN LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK (please).
Are you ready for a taste? Because…
THIS is the STUFF
For starters: I’ve made it clear that I work in healthcare, but I also want this post to speak for itself as I plan to disseminate it to strangers so we can pick up where we leave off at the bottom (another challenge with the internet, blogs, social media is it always seems like I’m coming in the middle of a conversation and don’t know where to jump in. If you’re feeling that, too, the answer is HERE!! Now!!). Articulating this online is hopefully going to help me explain myself better when we talk IRL. This is step one of many, many, many. And, as time and energy allow, I’d like to share the journey as it unfolds.
This is not a post about working in healthcare. This is a post built on the knowledge that Healthcare-Capital-H is a messy, sticky, wicked beast in the US and what I’m about to suggest is OUTSIDE that box (and therefore a bit outside my realm of understanding). You might know things I don’t. Maybe you’re a social worker, and you know about resources I hadn’t considered. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Maybe you’re a rehab therapist who’s experiencing the problems I describe below in a completely different way. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Perhaps you’re a pharmacist, caregiver, care-receiver, pastor, writer, actor, CNA, lawyer, realtor, retiree, gardener, poet, thinker, dreamer… come in… I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Okay? Okay. Here we go!
In healthcare, we use a format called SBAR to communicate about a problem (Situation) so we get the most important details (Background, Assessment, and most importantly, Recommendation/Request). I’ll use the SBAR format below, but the recommendation/request will be coming in pieces. I’ll give you the low-down in the form of a “product description”, but consider this a draft of the intro to a proposal, of sorts. But also, just a fun writing exercise :) No Pressure!
Situation:
People in the community don’t have easy access to affordable caregiver services or socialization as they age or become disabled
Background:
Working in Healthcare shines a light on the most vulnerable human problems we face in our lives. Fundamentally, our bodies are constantly aging and decaying, turning to compost quickly or slowly, from the minute we’re born. With that said, many of us are hoping to reach “old age”. Right? More or less.
What nobody tells us, and we’re ill-prepared for, is how to care for our aging and disabling bodies as life runs its course.
Growing up, people take classes on math, social studies, and so on.
The gap is that we don’t formally, comfortably, or vulnerably address how to care for human bodies in a practical way across the age and ability spectrum. Not just my own body, the bodies of others.
Some of the common problems with aging/disabling: muscle weakness, fatigue, unsteady walking, fall risk, inability to care for self — apply/remove clothing, brush hair/teeth/dentures, grooming, bathing, transferring in/out of bed, on/off the toilet, wiping effectively, changing incontinence garments, in/out of the shower/tub, walking short/long distances, reading medication bottles, reading prescription instructions, understanding prescription instructions, remembering to take medications, remembering that medications were already taken, grocery shopping, food prep, eating a meal, driving, remembering appointments, remembering who/what/why/when/how of getting to/from providers offices or navigating phone menus or multiple specialists with complex recommendations….
And some social and spiritual time in there, for your health.
Many people have the ability to do some/all of that, but need supervision or assistance from another human In Real Life (IRL). This can’t be addressed with a home security camera. This can’t be outsourced. Our country seems to have outsourced everything: energy for vehicles, heat, lights, technology, medicine, telecom, goods, services… Human care needs to be Insourced. Someone needs to be there to act. In real time. IRL.
But who?
In my experience, folks are left with two options: learn how to do it, or hire someone who can. Learn how, or hire out.
Assessment
Formal caregiver/assistive services exist. They exist. I’m not a social worker, but here’s the bit I know from experience in hospitals and home health. Formal caregiver services, as it stands, are a privilege in our country. A privilege is “an advantage granted to a particular person or group” (thanks google). For whom? For the richest or the poorest (and even that is nuanced).
Let’s start with the poorest.
Folks who meet income requirements (the poorest) qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid includes caregiver services if indicated, and based on meeting whatever disabling criteria for approval. Some people get 4 hours of caregiver services per day, 5 days per week. Others are granted more or less, and I don’t know the ins/outs, but let’s just say it’s rarely enough. If a person needs more help, their alternative is to go to a facility with Medicaid Beds to reside and be cared for. “Medicaid Beds”. [Let’s chew on that a moment. What delineates a “Medicaid Bed”? Is it somehow different than an “other” bed? (Are you starting to see a potential disparity here? I might not be making myself clear, so let’s just chalk it up to nuance and say that “Medicaid Beds” are maybe not the most desirable option when someone would rather remain in their home).] Don’t look away yet, there’s more.
Now, just because someone is approved for either of these services (a caregiver or a Medicaid Bed), doesn’t necessarily mean there are adequate staff (humans) to provide that care (Spoiler Alert: THERE AREN’T). I’ve had patients apply for community caregivers, get approved, and have to wait an indefinite amount of time until one becomes available. I’ve also talked with Healthcare workers who’ve worked in facilities with Medicaid Beds, and they report being understaffed in a way that breaks my heart (I won’t put numbers because they’re not mine, and I don’t know what ratios make sense. But in my heart, it’s not enough). It’s a quiet heartbreak. Is this sounding like passive neglect… because the facilities can’t/won’t hire more people, but they also can’t/won’t stop accepting patients if they have open beds…. but no humans to care for the humans in the beds?
[Stay with me, I have a plan, but I need you to understand the problem as I see it so you fully understand the solution I’m applying here. Okay? It might work, it might not. Power of prayer? Action? Money? Words? Woo Woo? Serendipity? Happenstance? Coincidence? Superstition? Let’s go find out together!]
Keep going, we’re getting there!
I started with the poorest people because, even though they might be “approved” for services, doesn’t mean they’re actually receiving those services. If they are, it’s likely not at the quality or satisfaction of services for people with means (money).
[Quick pause for clarification and request: please do not jump to the comments about people “milking the system” or “welfare queens” or any of that right now. Those are MY patients you’re painting with a broad brush. MY people. OUR people. If you have a problem with people abusing the system, use your words. But not here, please. It’s counterproductive, distracting, and takes away from the point at hand. Okay? Can we agree to move forward together? Excellent! Because that stuff will make our stew bitter and prickly. This is NOT the place for it. Thanks!]
There are, and will always be, people making “bad” choices on both ends of the wealth spectrum. I’m not the judge. I’m not god. I can’t see or hear or understand WHY. Anyone can do it. Anyone is capable of taking advantage of a system… when they become so desperate they see no other way. Too depressed, overworked, confused, lost… were they taught to do it this way? Do they even know it’s wrong? Benefit of the doubt, let’s just say, they don’t. So TEACH THEM. Use your words. HELP THEM.
We’re running out of time to sift through this nonsense.
I’ve wiped the butts of the poor, the butts of the rich, and all their poop stinks. I’ve also washed their feet. Cleaned their wounds. Taught them how to care for a device they can’t believe is inside their bodies. Helped them dress. Sat by them as they’ve cried. Held their families after they’ve died. I’ve caught babies, I’ve held dead ones. I have seen life and death full of suffering, and the most beautiful beginnings and endings I could possibly dream. In the beginning, we’re born from darkness. Into the light we’re expelled (or pulled). In the end, we’re all just compost. Back to darkness.
And then light.
What light?
Your light.
Until then, we all need to try to take care of ourselves… so we can begin to care for each other. This isn’t about US vs. THEM. This is about ALL of us, Earthlings. We’re ALL In This Together.
So, if Medicaid doesn’t cut it, or you don’t qualify for Medicaid (i.e., you make more than nothing), your alternative is to pay privately for a caregiver. Sounds simple, right? Like hiring a sitter? (Spoiler Alert: IT’S NOT).
The alternative is hiring a Private Duty Caregiver or Private Duty Nurse. This is a complex answer, as the costs very tremendously and are sometimes covered by insurance. I discuss it in a bit of detail in my other post titled Home Health Nursing: Attempting to Fit it in a Box (give it a read for some background).
It’s nuanced.
Fundamentally, human care is a vulnerable and sacred duty. It’s not a money-maker for the workers. People get into caregiving out of the goodness of their hearts (I know, there will always be nefarious fiends who are outliers, but in general it comes from a place of compassion).
People just want to care and be cared for in return. Can we agree? Great!
Now that I’ve painted the dastardly picture of caregiving in our American communities (don’t turn me into Nurse Ratched), let’s take stroll to my Recommendation or Request!
Recommendation
Ginkgo Lane Care Co-Op
If you haven’t heard of co-ops/co-operatives or adult day care before, do yourself a favor and check out these examples: Co-Op: Prairie Food Co-Op, The Co-Op Preschool Lombard, Adult Care: Day Break Adult Care Center Co-Op (CA), JASC-Chicago Adult Day Program. I’ve almost found what I describe below, but not exactly. When I formalize this into a real plan, I will investigate further. But that takes time, and I believe this is urgent. So we’re going to skip ahead together so we can get to work! In short, a co-op means that you (the customer) pay for a service, but it’s less costly than the “usual” means because you’re also required to volunteer. [When I say volunteer to people, you’d think I asked them to give me a kidney, or wipe their own dad’s butt… wait, they might need to learn to DO that someday — he did it for you, ya turd —…. so… YES, VOLUNTEER]. Time, services, information, tools. See a need, fill a need! In a preschool, the parents would volunteer in the classroom or assist with events or food/supplies. In this vision, the participants and their caregivers would be involved in the process from both sides (giving and receiving) as they are able and as the process requires. Makes sense, right? Many hands make light work!
The next part is where I begin to speak a bit more formally. I’m taking off my “floppy Jessie sunhat” and putting on my “nursey Jessie hat”, because I learned how to do this in school and I am beginning to see the fun of it! (Dr. Kramer, Dr. Blanchfield, Dr. Scheffel, Dr. Fitzgerald, oh my goodness I wish I could list them all! I think they’d like to see me apply this outside of grad school. Thank you for the tools, thank you).
Based on an existing co-op model in local preschools, an exemplar co-op in California, and existing adult care service offerings, I/We recommend the development of an Older Adult Care Co-Op in Lombard, Illinois (or the location of your choice if you’ve got the the site that’s feasible and close to home for the founding community).
Ginkgo Lane Care Co-Op (name to potentially be modified) will initially offer daytime care programs for older adults, primarily those with cognitive decline or memory impairment (lots of room to expand in the future, but let’s not boil the ocean yet). There will be an opportunity to branch in a multiple directions in future iterations, such as disabled young people, children, respite care, and folks with limited access to existing services due to funds, schedules, geography, etc.
We’re zooming IN to the pilot. The Founding Site.
Next is a product description, which will later be followed by a market analysis, budget estimates, financial analysis, projected timeline with action items, stakeholders, and a discussion of feasibility. (Like WAY later. That part takes time and resources, and I have a job you know).
The product description includes the building/site requirements, services and care to be provided, preparation/training for volunteers, oversight, and other opportunities and barriers identified in a quest for information. We’ll end with a call to action (don’t get scared, we don’t know what to ask you to do… YET).
Product Description
The proposed Ginkgo Lane Care Co-Op will initially be located in Lombard, Illinois. It will offer adult day services on a sliding scale based on need, with scholarship applications available on a recurring basis. Older adult participants will be dropped-off/picked-up by their primary caregiver or they can arrange a carpool. They’ll remain on-site for the duration of the day (or as needed) until their caregiver (loved one) returns. Daily enrichment activities will be offered, in addition to meals, snacks, and water. Participants should be physically independent or require minimal supervision or assistance with some mobility so they can fully engage in the space and with the group, or come with a care partner. When they enroll, they’ll be placed in a tier based on their need (also affecting cost as it impacts resources).
Give what you can out of your abundance, take what you need with that in mind.
As a co-op, the participants and/or their caregivers will give their time and/or services to offset the cost of the program (volunteer shifts, meal prep, cleaning, gardening, etc.). Give what you can out of your abundance, take what you need with that in mind. For the first year, the Ginkgo Lane Hub will be staffed by two registered nurses or therapists with experience in home health, hospice, and/or the care of older adults in the post-acute/community setting. This foundational understanding of the needs of humans outside of the “traditional” healthcare setting will help identify participant appropriateness, or suggest other levels of care or services that could offer assistance. Hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, 8AM - 4PM.
How will we know the community needs this? A grassroots information campaign at the local library will involve a community open forum to gauge interest and ability to participate (and also an internet post by one of the founders). When we get into costs later, it will be clear how they add up quickly. For now, we’re going to dream it into life, then we’ll figure out how to make it work within existing models, frameworks, buildings, or networks.
[Are you still with me?? Good! Because now we’re going to watch it come to life as an actual, real gathering space. Keep going!]
The Gingko Lane site will be secured through grant or donation as the hub and founding site, requiring functioning plumbing, electric, and HVAC capabilities. The founding site will be considered the Hub and will require at least one large room (preferably two, or room to expand), restrooms, a kitchen, greenscape, a garden plot, and shelving or closets for storage and a small library. The space will be furnished by donations, with some items listed for-sale as a means of fundraising. For example, if local makers refurbish and sell furniture, they could display their product on site and later host silent auctions to raise money and support the program. (Plus, handcrafted items are so lovely!). There will be gathering spaces, nooks with a table/chairs, couches, and ideally a space for group fitness or movement in an open area, and a quiet space for rest with cots or mats available. Visibility is essential, so if separate areas are walled, windows will be installed to facilitate.
While the facility site is prepared, a list of interested clientele will be compiled. A website with participant portal will eventually list the mission and philosophy, care model, offerings, schedule, estimated cost, and volunteer opportunities. Marketing will be achieved via local businesses, chamber of commerce, representatives, churches, and community canvassing.
[Pause here: Consider if you have other suggestions to gauge interest in the Lombard community or surrounding area. Write that down! (I’m right on top of that, Rose)]
The daily enrichment activities will be semi-structured for ongoing engagement. Members will volunteer or be assigned for tasks on a regular basis, which is the foundation of a co-op movement. A way to differentiate the various roles will help clarify how folks will participate. People on site will include older adult Participant Members, a Primary Caregiver Member, and Volunteer Members. Participants will be adults who are older, or who have dementia or other memory problems. Ideally, they will have a Caregiver (loved one) who is responsible for their wellbeing and care coordination (not just at the Co-Op, but for their needs in the home and navigating the “traditional” healthcare system). If a Participant is interested who does not have a Caregiver, they can be connected to resources. Volunteers could play the role of Caregiver if both parties are interested.
Daily Activities
Each day will be semi-structured with meals and enrichment activities, as well as free-time and leisure. Enrichment Activities will include gardening and nature, music, art, dance, physical activity and movement, reading, puzzles, crafting, and other hobbies and interests depending on the preferences of the group. A calendar of Special Events will include guest speakers and workshops for a pay-what-you-can sliding scale fee. Special Events will include informational sessions on wellness skills, socialization, faith and spirituality, and other special interests by request and availability. Speakers/presenters may have a background in traditional Healthcare (pharmacists, social workers, rehab therapists, counselors, nurses, certified nursing assistants, doctors, etc.), local professionals (master gardeners, realtors, landscapers, business owners, teachers, clergy), hobbyists, and other members of the surrounding community. Special Events will be webcast/streamed and recorded, then distributed via a podcast platform for a pay-what-you-can subscription fee.
Additionally, attendees and volunteers will be involved in the daily operations of the co-op. As they are able, they will be assigned tasks or can volunteer for regular duties to support the program. This includes activity and meal prep, facilitating activities, groundskeeping, cleaning, upkeep, handywork, and so on. Caregivers and Volunteers time and/or services will offset the cost of the program. They might provide food or supplies on a regular basis, in addition to spending regular shifts volunteering to be on-site. They could also volunteer to pick-up/drop-off participants who don’t have the means to travel. The human assistance and participation will help offset the cost of daily operations, lease, etc.
Training will be provided to all volunteers and participants as part of orientation. This will include sessions on safety, aging well, advance care planning/decision-making, elder care, caring for a person with dementia, and others as the need warrants. One person on-site will be CPR and First Aid certified, but no other medical experience or care will be expected or provided. Medication reminders can be coordinated based on need, but due to the liability and scope of practice of this Co-op, physical or medical care will not be offered (think of later branches and some opportunities to incorporate family nurse practitioners, home health and hospice workers, etc.). Those interested will be directed to traditional Healthcare services through the usual means of a provider referral. If there is interest, caregiver training classes will be offered to unskilled people who would like to learn how to care for people in their homes. This will be provided on a sliding scale, or recommended to follow up with a traditional home health service or institutional course for training.
Scheduling will be done through a web-based portal. Participants, Caregivers, and Volunteers will sign up for their hours on a given day. If more volunteers are available, the Participant Capacity for the day goes up and more Participants can attend. Generally, with three facilitators on site (two employees and one volunteer), the Daily Capacity could be about 24 older adult Participants.
Daily Capacity will also depend on acuity of need. Participant needs will be based on a Needs Tier and will be determined through collaboration with the Participant, Caregiver, and the Co-Op staff. For example:
Tier 1: Socialization, connection, human interaction ($200/week? We will discern fees more specifically later)
Tier 2: Verbal reminders or cueing (eating, wandering) and environmental safety (xxx/week)
Tier 3: Intermittent supervision and/or assistance with walking, transferring, eating, or accessing the toilet (xxx/week)
Costs and Funding
Cost to participate will depend on need. Scholarships will be available for 4-, 8-, and 12-week increments and will be awarded based on availability (donations) and demand. Community Volunteer hours and services will off-set the cost and time demands of the Caregivers. Community Volunteers may include retirees, homemakers, students, and parents with older children.
Awareness and fundraising efforts will include canvassing local community centers, churches, colleges, high schools, concert/entertainment venues, restaurants, and healthcare organizations. Businesses may donate time, services, food, goods, or money to further off-set costs of the program and operations. As the program and funding grow, there will be opportunities for expansion in the future.
Growth
Upon the success of the first year, a market analysis should be performed in surrounding areas with a plan to expand to new site branches. Additionally, with the advent of the remote work era, there is an opportunity to facilitate remote workers (work from home) as volunteers. This program also has the potential to be implemented in a home or congregate living setting. For example, if a facility has additional rooms available, they could be arranged as “hotel offices” where remote workers can come to work for the day, and intermittently assist with meals, socialization, or other upkeep on-site. Another option would be to create dyads or triads of participants who could be monitored in the home of a remote worker. Caregivers could drop-off/pick-up at the home, where a remote worker and Volunteer would be available to supervise and engage in activities.
The founders will support and mentor those interested in expanding the program to new sites or avenues, providing assistance and guidance as needed. Maybe someone lives farther away from Lombard, like Lake Zurich, Arlington Heights, Chicago, St. Charles, Marengo, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Woodstock, Antioch, or Minooka and they’ve identified a need in their own community. This program framework, and the connections that grow from it, are resources to be shared. This co-op cannot function as a silo. This is a hub. And eventually, there will be spokes. Some plants grow in isolation, others require groves. Mutual reciprocity. Shared giving.
All it takes is:
A seed of an idea.
Some nutrient-rich soil.
A bit of water.
A layer of compost.
And light.
What light?
Your light.
Where is the light pointing next?
Gingko Lane Co-Op will not come to fruition overnight. It won’t happen easily. And it will take patience, diligence, and tenacity to see it through. Engagement. Connection. Community. Gumption.
Many hands make light work. We’re All In This Together! Don’t stay lost.
Healthcare, patient needs, human bodies, Medicare guidelines, insurance requirements, viruses, science, medicine are all moving targets. It is an amoeba. A wicked problem. A wicked problem is one that is difficult to define, and difficult to solve. Think about those “spidey senses”, the feeling that says, “well hey now, that just ain’t right”. Grab it! THAT feeling is what can’t be taught in schools or orientation. It can’t be put into a module, a class, a book, a continuing education credit. Our Spidey Senses are what help us understand the parts of us that are a bit human, but also a bit something else. Hard to define, tricky, wicked, sticky. Spidey Senses are a FEELING. And FEELINGS do not easily get put into words. It takes time — time to NOTICE the feeling. Hear it, feel it, sense it. Allow it. Honor it. Look at it. Investigate. Ask, “why”. Then ask again. “Why?”. And again “Why”. And again, WHY. WHY WHY WHY — like a toddler. Because a toddler isn’t satisfied till they understand the reason we said NO. Or the reason we’re making them do something.
“Don’t touch that, it’s hot, sweetie”.
“Why?”
“Because I just turned off the flame. It doesn’t look hot, but the metal can still give you an owie. Ouch. Hot hot, no touch!” [Keep it simple, silly]
“Why?”
“Because I said so”.
And you can either trust me when I tell you, or get burned.
When I use my words:
“WE HAVE A PROBLEM OVER HERE, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP”
Or don’t. Leave it alone. Don’t touch it, understand that it’s hot. Accept that it’s outside your control or understanding. And turn away.
“But don’t touch that either honey, you’ll get a splinter!!”
Your turn!
While we work to put this into words, provide a lit review, flesh out the details, and formalize this process, we need to hear from you. Do you sense there’s a need in your community or network? Does this solution exist somewhere else? Is it a care model? A business model? A product? A service? What do you think?
Would the founders of similar ideas be willing to share their successes or misses?
If you’re going to poke holes, please be gentle. Poke holes to ease the pressure on my sails. But don’t smash me into the ground and tell me “No, because I said so”. Use your words, and I’ll use mine. This IDEA is a seedling that’s finally starting to germinate after a looooooong winter. It didn’t get here overnight, and it won’t come to fruition for a long time still (likely 5 years). Help me stay patient. What ingredients would you want to add? What does this warm, tasty stew look like to you? Are you hungry, thirsty? When I stop talking, will you still hear me? Does this resonate?
“If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin
Come in!
Come in!”
A quote from Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Love,
Jessie
What did I wake up to? Clarity.
Gingko Lane Hive -- the network of ideas and connection (virtual) -- I have something to share... I don't know what's out there... I have a question... I'm uncertain...
Gingko Lane Sanctuary -- keep me safe
Gingko Lane Workshop -- put me to work
Gingko Lane Farms -- feed me
Gingko Lane Resale and Consignment -- nourish my body and my home
Gingko Lane Wellness -- nourish my body, mind, and spirit
Gingko Lane.... what comes to your mind?
Om, amen, hallelujah, hakunna mattata, thank you, praise shiva, danka, gracias, Dziękuję Ci, Salamat, Shukran, спасибо, obrigada, grazie, ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါသည် (kyaayyjuutainparsai), धन्यवाद (dhanyavaad), આભાર, (Ābhāra), akun, thank you, amen, hakumma mattata, om, and so on
Love,
Jessie
What an AMAZING vision!! I love it!