The generous floors of collaboration.

Lessons from Childhood.

Growing up, my mother’s approach to life imparted a profound lesson in collaboration, often without us even realising it. We learned instinctively that conversation was a canvas for dreaming, a space to unravel ideas, and a playground for exploring the impossible—together. Remarkably, I’ve never heard a word of gossip from her; her ability to speak without judgment or disparagement is a gift I grow more grateful for as I age. This silent wisdom has taught me that the way we use language and engage in conversation reflects a choice: to be generous or sparse, collaborative or exclusive, open-minded or closed.

I believe, collaboration is where we can witness our most lively selves, creatively.

My childhood was one large creative collaboration—Early on, I learnt that a collective and artful kind of satisfaction happens in togetherness and it was my mother who taught me the art of collaboration and the beauty found on its generous floors.

Collaboration as a mindset is a flow-on effect from the centre of generosity—it requires an open-handedness, a no holding back—it asks that you might give something of yourself whilst simultaneously engaging with the offering of another—collaboration is largesse, it leaves small-mindedness at the door. It embraces all the possibilities found in togetherness.

In early childhood, it was not uncommon for my siblings and I to spend hyper-focused hours on cubby house stage shows, endless lyrical play and songwriting, playroom theatre productions, camera recordings of co-written films, bedroom make-overs, barbie house creations and the art of chaperoning each others wardrobe choices… my childhood saw me the greatest collaborations to date— my mother never allowed for small-minded language whether it be amongst us as siblings or as witnesses to the conversation around the tables she sat at, in the everyday living.

To this day, it is impossible for my siblings and I to not turn ‘nothing’ into big beautiful ‘somethings’ when we get together. Our conversations are some of my favourites in the world, ones full of “what if’s?” with ideas transpiring into visions that come to life through speech. Together we see things that could be or become, we cheer each other on, we help each other grow ideas from their early beginnings. There is this beautiful undergirding sense of inclusiveness and an eagerness to co-create even if it’s just in the exchange of an idea or the backing of one.