WEEK 33: COOPERATION MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND BY ALICJA CARTER

Controlling less
Openness
Originality bubbling up
Perceptions discussed
Energies multiplying
Recognizing, Redefining
Appreciation, heart swelling
Truth telling
Inside out living
Optimistic ideas swirling
Never dull, together unfurling
 

• Cooperation is discussing with your co-workers the best way to fit 5 cars in a narrow drive way.
• Cooperation is coordinating a meal train to make sure your friend and her family don’t have to worry about food while they are mourning the loss of a loved one.
• Cooperation is deciding who is driving and how gas is getting paid for while road tripping with the girls.
• Cooperation is giving your friend “air time” first with the agreement that she will hold space for you afterwards.
• Cooperation is happily doing an hour’s worth of dishes because your husband happily did an hour’s (plus) worth of gourmet cooking.
• Cooperation is asking what day and time would work best to go walking.
• Cooperation is contributing financial resources to an incredible local art exhibit to provide prizes for the winning pieces.
• Cooperation is figuring out whose turn it is at the 4-way stop sign.

 
Cooperation.  The process of working together to the same end.  What in our day could get accomplished without the cooperation of others?  Whether getting children ready for (virtual) school, completing objectives for a project at work, or ordering lunch in the 6 mile long line at Chick-fil-A, we need each other to uphold agreements in order to move forward and make progress.  Appreciating the cooperativeness of others can help us feel more grateful and connected throughout our day.  Being in relationship with cooperative people enables us to build trusting relationships and take on complex, out of the box tasks and ideas.  Cooperation gives all voices a chance to be heard and allows people to work within the skill sets with which they are most adept, which builds confidence and future collaborative opportunities.  Cooperation makes the world go round.
 
Alicja Carter, MHR, LADC, BHWC, has been working in the behavioral health and addiction treatment field for over 13 years at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery.  Alicja is passionate about wellness and collaborating with others for the purpose of stimulating positive change in her community. ​

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