Ren Goode

Background

About Ren Goode

Insert Ron Swanson's "permit" here — because I'll write what I want. When you look into a regular mirror, do you see the mirror or just your reflection in it? Now think of a house of mirrors. Are you more aware of the mirror itself because it is distorting your reflection? To me, this metaphor symbolizes the interplay between individuals and community. The more our reflections are distorted, the more we usually focus on the reason behind it (community symbolized as the mirror). Our communities are navigating complex challenges — many of which do not yet have cohesive solutions. In this age of connectedness, we actually seem to be disconnecting more from each other. Our reflections in the many mirrors of community are warped and obstructed, perhaps causing us to doubt our place and sense of purpose. Doing what we can to nurture the health and well-being of our communities in this time of continuous and volatile change is paramount. Our ability to adapt to the ever-fluctuating circumstances we find ourselves in is, in my opinion, irrevocably tethered to the strength and stability of the communities we are part of. It is my goal to inspire communities to be curious about the "why" behind the warping of our reflections —and then, somehow, encourage action on the many small steps required to harmonize both the mirror and what we see in it. When I have that figured out, I'll let you know. Until then, stay curious.