SOAP AND WATER . . . removes most stains.
It sounds too simple, but it's true. While it may not erase every single stain, soap and water are certainly a good place to start, and will - more often than not - give you great results.
Similarly, when you are met with conflict, listening and empathy remove almost all barriers.
Last week we referenced an email that someone wrote to us in response to our WDS ticket giveaway. The email in question used some intense words, and, as we mentioned, our gut reaction was to feel anxiety.
What we hadn't realized is that you would feel that anxiety, too. Or even (dare we say) anger. We had an overwhelming response from newsletter readers who quickly came to our defense. We so appreciate your kind words, and your concern. It's clear that many folks understand us on a level that words can't express, and we're thankful that you find value in the community that we've had the great fortune to help bring together.
What we want to clarify this week is that, following our initial anxiety was a realization that the person on the other end of that email felt the need to write it, and most likely for reasons beyond a simple desire to complain. We reached out to the email's author to find out what those reasons were, and we were reminded (as always) that honesty, openness, and empathy can go a long way. (Later we learned that Danny Meyer / Union Square Hospitality Group conveniently has a phrase that they use to convey / teach this idea - make charitable assumptions - i.e. give the benefit of the doubt, and approach someone with respect, trust and perhaps an offer of help and support. Thanks to Dana for the enlightened breakfast conversation this morning).
Several exchanges later, it turns out that we're both well-intentioned folks feeling overwhelmed about systematic issues, and trying to figure out how we can have meaningful impact. And sometimes that is frustrating.
In the end, we don't begrudge him for writing the email. In fact, it prompted a lot of worthwhile conversation, resulting in a sense of gratitude that we always experience when we learn something new. In particular, it helped remind us of several things:
We do not know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
People might disagree with us, and that's okay. The strength of this community is in the ability of the individuals that comprise it to chime in, speak up, have a point of view, and (above all) to be open to exchange and discourse. As always, if you have something to say, let us know.
Painful truths are better than sweet lies.
Sometimes the things that are harder are also better. Was it hard to initially read his email? Absolutely. But was it worthwhile? Yes, indeed.
In reaching out to us with his concerns, we were given the opportunity to connect with him. It sparked new ideas, brought up interesting conversations, and ultimately exercised all of our skills in empathy and understanding. Most importantly, it gave us a frame of reference for figuring out how we can all have a deeper impact.
What you do today will not be the only thing that you will ever do.
We get it. We all feel the urgency to do work that MATTERS. We want to make a difference, have an impact, contribute to something that is greater than ourselves. We know that feeling.
We've also learned that we'll never be able to be everything to everyone (no matter how hard we try). And that there are a lot of places to contribute, but we won't be able to be the best at all of them all at once. In fact, when we spread ourselves too thin, our overall efforts can be diluted rather than strengthened.
So our plea to you is to figure out where you fit into the equation. Knowing that at any given time you can only do so much, what is your small part in this food movement?
I recall a regular debate with a friend from college who would always say, 'But how can you concentrate your efforts on getting people to eat good food when there are starving children in the world?'
I get it. Believe me, I don't want starving children in the world any more than anyone else does. And if I thought my skills would be put to best use by starting a nonprofit that collected money to grow food to feed the billion starving people on this planet, then I would do that. But that is not where I, personally, would be most effective. And I am getting better at accepting that.
I know there are many of you out there. Each one with different skills and experiences and interests and resources. Whether you are a home cook that is making meals for those that you love, or you grow a garden and share the bounty with your friends or your local food bank, or you farm for a living, or you take beautiful pictures of real food that make people want to eat it. If the words that you write are more delicious than the bread that you bake, or you know the ins and outs of navigating a particularly dietary restriction. If you are good at managing people or budgets or spreadsheets. If you understand media / design / communications / marketing. Whether you like to eat and/or grow and/or preserve and/or learn and/or teach and/or make and/or talk about and/or share food. If you like to spend time with children, or elderly, or people your own age, or everyone. Or if you like to focus on the subjects that surround food (literally, like water and soil - or waste and compost).
No matter what your area of interest, we need you. Everybody needs your contribution. Even if it seems . . . small? Not enough? Together we amplify it. Together it becomes not just movement, but a movement.
Every once in a while we encounter an example of someone outside of the food world whose ethos truly resonates with us. This past weekend we had the pleasure of cruising through the Saipua Plant Sale in Brooklyn. It was this very passage that made us want to go . . .
Inside Saipua we talk a lot about how we can possibly change the world through flowers...make it a little cleaner, a little greener. Make more people pay attention to the changing seasons, get them to notice and understand the rhythms of nature, even if they live in midtown manhattan. You'd be surprised at how often I explain to people that trees flower in the spring and make fruit in the fall. (Often in reference to why they can't have crabapple at their April event.) This opportunity to educate is precious and invaluable. If we can get people excited to notice and tune into the small bits of nature that surround them, then we might be able to get them to practice some small bit of stewardship towards that nature...even if it's tending to some plants inside.
We loved this so much because it captured the value of simple and subtle movements that heighten people's awareness. Are they magically changing / saving the world overnight? Far from it. Are their services accessible to everyone? They are cost prohibitive for most. But they are getting some people to open their eyes, by continually curating a collection of beautiful plants and flowers, and there is value in that. They are doing their small part by doing what they do really well.
If you are eager to have the chance to meet other people that are approaching the world in this way, you have one last chance to try your luck at our World Domination Summit ticket giveaway (the contest ends at 11:59 PM EDT tonight). We'll admit that the name seems very intense, but we assure you that it's really not about any sort of domination . . . and really fosters a spirit of community, adventure, and service. If you're on the fence, just consider that Kid President will be there.
Enter your name and email for a chance to win. FYI we will never rent, sell, or otherwise share your contact information - or anyone else's. We just want to be able to contact you if you win.
THE CONTEST PAGE http://goodfoodjobs.com/wds
ENTER YOUR NAME & EMAIL FOR A CHANCE TO WIN http://contest.io/c/xyyebxsv
And, as always, don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.
 Taylor & Dorothy
Co-Founders, Good Food Jobs
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