Clare Jones
My experience on the course
Strong contenders for the experience of the course were the yoga and the memorably majestic Swami G and the fabulous company. I learned something from every participant regardless of their life story, nationality etc. It is fun being part of an ongoing global group email hug - long may it continue and I look forward to a possible reunion get together. Sue’s mysterious, unstructured style of teaching was quite a challenge for me to start with, but it was part of what attracted me to coming to India and Sue was well able for the heckles along the way.
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I had good and not so good moments throughout the course, but in the end it all came together and I am thrilled and proud to have been through this life-affirming experience. It was a more intense journey than I had expected and, on reflection, it took some adjustment for me to fully commit to the learning, particularly being part of a rather rebellious couple. The last morning was a complete revelation for me as I sat in my small group and committed to my outcomes etc and had the rewarding opportunity to contribute to others’ goals and offer them ongoing support.
My learnings on the course
Pete and I are still coming down from this magical experience and in between mum duties for my little Alice angel, filling up our diaries for much of the year, practicing madly for my imminent grade three piano exam, getting Pete comfy in his new flat and both of us getting back into our jobs and social life, there's not a lot of time slotted in for, well, just being! So, who's responsibility is that?! I know. Its me. Only me. And I am in charge now. Fully. Now. Right now.
The awareness I am developing is amazing. My learnings since returning to my real world have increased ten fold and I see tremendous scope to enhance my career, relationships and life with the skills I have been uncovering. As time goes on I am experiencing new tiny little learnings that are only now emerging (must have lodged in the unconscious?) as I notice how I and others communicate and I am remembering specific special things people said or did to me on the course, which are now particularly relevant.
I now realize that life to date has revolved around a maelstrom of generalisations, distortions, deletions, interruptions, allows, needs, musts, shoulds and oughts. Arrrghh. It's going to be a full time job to get a grip on those buggers! However, I believe knowing is half the battle, work is in progress and of course I have Pete's co-enlightement to keep me (and him) in check. Also, I am working on my modeling project (active listening – started in Kerala with an interview with my first model, Cheryl). My main work is now focused on "being kind to myself", which I identified in my own feedback to myself. This, to me, is central to my happiness and success. And, as suggested by Arul, I have a target of one whole year to become totally and utterly perfect (well almost) - a great time frame. What a brilliant year it is going to be and it is already!
The place
Truly, intoxicatingly breathtaking and ever so slightly magical. It was the most perfect location for a culture of wisdom, compassion, laughter and love, with a scintillating backdrop of dolphins at play, stunning sunrises and sunsets, the lazy, jungle lined backwaters, the hustle bustle and childlike curiosity of the local community, beaming Indian smiles and endless, ridiculously delicious curries.
Our organisation of the event…
The use of the energy was as usual with Sue brilliant. I left every day wanting to carry on all night.
Organisation of the event
Was it smoke and mirrors? Was it strategic brilliance? Was the unplanned planned or did it all just happen? Was the learning subliminal or was it overt? Was it frustrating or was it joyful to watch things just unfold? The jury is still out. Perhaps I’ll never know quite why and how the course works, but then the outcome and now is all that matters surely. And…..so… it all worked. Beautifully. Thank you Sue and Colin and all your Indian friends and colleagues who put such a unique experience together. I hope many other people get to dip their toes in the water of the Arabian Sea and watch the sun go down with you two. The Sue and Spencer roadshow is unique and has a lot more mileage in it yet.
Sue (clearly I recognise these qualities)
- Is as wise and as loving as a most-cherished grandmother
- Is great fun and delightfully giddy at times
- Has the potential to be irritating as hell when she is in firing on all cylinders mode and sniffs a whiff of cynicism
- Is as tough as old boots
- Could melt a heart of stone
- Is up for the challenge of any boardroom antics
- Is blessed with the apparent energy of an 18 year old
All the assistants; Ashok, Arul, Anand, Jay, John, Tanuja, and Colin
Fabulous company - Frank Farrelly bootcamp in India co-hosted by Ashok and Arul has to be on the cards? Those two stood out as the outstanding trainers from India. I really enjoyed Colin’s acerbic and devastatingly focused contribution - he and Sue are a formidable team.