I’m writing this post because I feel the need to confess.
I had preconceived ideas about the young people I would meet as part of this year’s Incubator. If you are unsure what the Incubator is, it’s one of Actnow’s programs which includes face-to-face workshops. Read about it here. http://www.actnow.com.au/Action/The_ActNow_makeover.aspx
My expectations of the Incubators were not based on a lack of faith in young people, but perhaps a lack of faith in the kind of young people who would attend this kind of workshop.
I expected good intentions. I expected passion for issues. I expected some experience with taking action. I expected some sanctimoniousness and a little self-righteousness.
I expected diversity. I expected that some would be outgoing and others would be shy. I expected that I would even find some a little boring.
I expected some to have difficulty with zooming in and out between details and the bigger picture. I expected to encounter dreamers and the narrow-minded. I expected to find people limited by their points of view.
What I found knocked me on my cynical arse.
Every single Incubator instantly gave me a reason to respect them. They were optimistic realists, never limiting themselves by pushing a tired or myopic agenda. None of them were narrow-minded or sanctimonious. Every one of them was talented, every one of them fascinating. I could have sat up and talked with each one of them all night long, and would have walked away in the early, sleepy hours of the morning feeling refreshed.
Thank you Incubators for championing the part of my brain that believes in our generation in its fight against my cynicism. I look forward to working with you. And thankyou Actnow for hosting Incubators, and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this one.
