Let the Magic Begin!

The big adventure is about to unfold, as we learned in August that "In Others' Shoes" has been approved for Erasmus Plus funding. Great news, but where do we begin and how do we get started? 

There is inevitably a huge amount of work involved in bringing any project to life. Initially there is a surge of energy, excitement and enthusiasm but careful foundations must always be laid. We have seven project partners with different expectations, hopes and fears for what lies ahead. Each person, each organisation, must be prepared to step out of their comfort zone to learn something new together. But as they say, it is outside your comfort zone that the magic happens and real learning takes place. What we will learn and discover is yet to be revealed. An exciting prospect.

Now is the time for bravery, for forging new friendships and holding assumptions lightly. Now is the time to open our eyes to new possibilities and identify the skills, values and strengths we possess as a new team of collaborators. How can we communicate effectively? How well can we listen and understand each other? How can we work cooperatively, efficiently and share the workload? How can we make the project work for each of us in our individual settings and lives? So many things to consider, explore and ponder.

One thing is for sure, there will be unexpected hurdles. Misunderstandings and challenges will arise. Progress often takes longer than expected in our instantaneous world of today. But, like a river slowly plots a new course around difficult terrain, persistence and commitment will find a solution to the issues that arise. More is learned when things go wrong than when everything appears to going smoothly to plan. Impact is often greatest where we least expect to find it. From this viewpoint there is nothing to lose and much more to gain than we imagine. There is nothing to be afraid of. Let the magic begin!

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