Dear Ones,

This is not the note I expected to write, and much has changed since I last shared in May. What I am experiencing here in Sri Lanka was unanticipated, not at all the trip I had expected, but exactly where I need to be right now. I am being guided by the uncertainty, the constant change, my intuition, a desire to serve, and my ability to listen with more than my ears to what is needed or wanting to emerge. 

I am on a journey with a direction and a compass, but no map.

I call today upon your big heart, your desire to lead positive change in the world, your connection to and deep passion for others, and your ability to lead with harmony in your generosity and action. 

If you feel called to participate, the people of Sri Lanka sure could use your help. And as you know, Sri Lanka is a very special place to me, and I would be oh so grateful for your support in my efforts to lift others who have given and taught me so much.

~~~

HELP SRI LANKA

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THE STORY

I work with leaders who desire to make a positive difference in the world through business and social enterprise, and to simultaneously lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. 

You and me, we're not the kind of people who sign up for easy.

It is exactly in our darkest times where we find our greatest beauty and creativity. And it is a dark time for the people here in Sri Lanka.

But imagine believing in or seeking beauty and creativity when you don't know if you can eat dinner tonight, when you don't know if you can feed your family tomorrow? And this same dilemma has presented itself for over a year continuously, despite your best efforts to pivot your work and occasionally pick up day labor (most often something dangerous or requiring reliance on borrowing)…?

Further, imagine you feel forgotten, unseen, uncelebrated, lost, and no longer remember what it was that brought you hope for a dignified future.

I am living in the beachside village of Ahangama, Sri Lanka on the southwest coast, where the travel industry and garment manufacturing are the two main sources of income. How many new pieces of clothing did you buy this past year in the pandemic? Not much, right? Perhaps, like me, you were sitting at home working on your couch in the same “uniform” most days. How many places did you travel to? Not many, particularly not an island country with an airport closed for 9 months.

You may have visited a popular vacation spot in the off season and felt the desolation. Imagine that exponentially - a year of tropical overgrowth, boarded up buildings, broken windows, closed businesses and disrepair. I arrived in Ahangama, a place I love, which I barely recognized physically, and the hollowness in people's once sparkling eyes was arresting. 

To be very honest, my first thought was to flee. I cried my eyes out for a couple days, took walks and meditated on the beach, and began to realize it's time to get to work. I have good work to do and I am here with my particular flavor of leadership for a reason. 

About 10 days after I emerged from my 2 week silent quarantine in the jungle, we were in lockdown, and have been ever since. This means all shops, restaurants, and customer oriented businesses are closed, except a couple food stands, a small grocery store, and the pharmacy. And technically, you're not allowed out of the house without a receipt from the food store or pharmacy you just visited. But I'm a big hearted rebel, and I've found some safe and sneaky work arounds so I can still reach people and inspire hope. 

I'm not super great at following rules which are not created with our shared humanity in mind (;

THE SITUATION

Note: Read all the details on our co-creative fundraiser page, replete with thoughtful giveaways! 

HELP SRI LANKA

Friends, who have become like family, friends with whom I barely share a common language of words but with whom I share dinner nightly, friends who I feel closer to than most, friends who have been incredibly generous despite having very little, friends who have taught me about other ways of living, other ways of seeking joy and fulfillment…these friends primarily work in the travel industry, and perhaps a family member works at a local garment factory. Maybe before the pandemic they were a surf coach for almost 10 years, or a house cleaner, or a chef, or a shop keeper…these friends and their families are largely out of work, are selling cherished possessions, skipping meals, going into arrears on their bills…

And then the third wave of the virus swept the country by the beginning of May, leading to the lockdowns, and absolutely no hope for work. There have been more cases and deaths in the past month than in the past 12 months combined. The island had just opened to welcome travelers, only to be shut down again. And on top of that, a chemical container ship exploded off the coast and plastic pellets have covered all the beaches. Not a great advertisement for tourism, and a very bleak outlook for those working in the industry after a year of no business.

This means putting food on the table is a real challenge. Of course there are deeper issues to address…like how disconnected we are to how our clothes are made and therefore participate in the cycle which makes economic devastation like this possible…but the immediate basic human need is food. And dignity. To remember our common-unity and our interconnectedness.

“The opposite of poverty is dignity, not income.” - Jaqueline Novogratz

I have been supporting the basic food and hygiene needs of 6 families I know for the past month. But the problem is so much bigger than me. I can have a much bigger impact by teaming up and not going it alone. I've partnered with a local business, Sunshinestories (where many of my friends worked in the past, before the pandemic), to begin a fundraiser to buy and deliver food and hygiene essentials for as many families as possible who have previously been connected to the travel industry and have been out of work for an extended period.

I would so deeply appreciate any contribution to this community I care so much about. For example, $14 USD will cover a family's food and hygiene needs for one week. The fundraiser is in Swedish Krona, so $14 USD = 120 Kr.

~~~

HELP SRI LANKA

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LEADING WITH LOVE

What is possible when we listen, pay attention, and care enough and are brave enough to ask powerful questions of ourselves and others? And when we are patient enough to keep showing up to the conversation.

In addition to co-creating this fundraiser and leading on the ground operations in collaboration with local families (including how to take dignified photos of our efforts, with deep consideration for the families and their feelings), I've been listening. Listening not only with my ears, but also my heart, my eyes, all of my senses. 

Instead of thinking I have the answers (I most definitely do not), I've been asking questions, asking for help, and sitting with people in their homes to show them that they matter. I have been seeing people, hearing them, and reconnecting them with their dreams for the future and a sense of joy in the dark. I have been listening, and just showing up again and again, in recognition of our shared humanity.

A budding young future art teacher who didn't have access to her craft is now learning new mediums after overcoming a fear of being seen. 

A former surf coach has discovered a passion for planting palm trees and has literally begun to “seed” a new business idea he almost scrapped.

A set of young brothers who were out of touch with their teachers in the lockdown and didn't know they were missing out on learning opportunities, are now plugged in and no longer fighting every day but laughing and learning together.

A social entrepreneur has found her voice and confidence, despite unsupportive surroundings, as she innovates her travel agency and ramps up the component that gives back to her local community.

A former hotel manager is beginning to value himself and his talents, and that he deserves more than how he has been treated and is applying to new jobs which really stretch him, rather than shrinking.

A current hotel manager (my new friend, Suni <3, at the generous and big hearted Kiri Palu boutique hotel where I am VERY fortuitously - and serendipitously - living), has realized that it's not “luck” that brought him success and fulfillment in his life, but his talent, skill, and way of being in the world and he in fact created or made possible every single opportunity for himself. How empowering! He's currently working on a community garden to support the families suffering in our neighborhood, and is always looking out for my friends encouraging their ideas and talents, and brainstorming career pivots.

A NEW KIND OF LEADER

How might the way in which you love the world be part of your definition of success? Of flourishing? And don't we all deserve to flourish? To live our one wild and precious life? Who are we not to be worthy of this? And if you are, aren't we all?

There’s no room in our current equation of capitalism and outdated leadership where we are rewarded for what we take, rather than what we give, for truly improving the world and shaping a more beautiful future. And yet, if we reimagine our approach and base our decisions in values, so there exists so much power and money to address real needs - creatively.

What happens when we lead with love, curiosity, compassion, courage, empathy? How might our decisions be made differently when see ourself in another and as part of a bigger whole? When we begin to serve the world not an endless up and to the right bottom line.

Thank you for listening, brave one. I feel you.

With gratitude and kindest regards,

Xx Ashley