*To my Open Space Family,* Thirteen years ago, I fell in love with Open Space. That feeling never left me. It just grew and grew. How could it not? Open Space Technology gave me the greatest gift of all—a heightened awareness of my life and life around me. In those early days on the OS list, it felt like such a “Brave Act” to post my questions and share my budding experiences as an Open Space facilitator and participant. So often I felt out of my league, intimidated by the depth and knowledge of so many in our global community. I did not always have the language to describe what I wanted to say or ask (I still don't). Regardless, I swallowed hard and pressed the send button. Choosing to let my heart speak instead of my head, which always held me back. The responses from everyone were always insightful, generous, and validating. That fear never completely went away. Ironically more than a decade later, I took another big leap, gulping hard. This time I wrote an autobiographical book about my continuing love affair with Open Space titled: *“Open Space on the Open Road: A Love Story” <https://www.amazon.com/Open-Space-Road-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B0BQ3YSHNW?fbclid=IwAR1k-zUhRz6OScPbq1SEmYiARP3joCbKlAQJ1OZVKxhIH8qQ8vvsBfWXLsA>. *Just released internationally last week. It was another Brave Act, bigger this time and one that I felt compelled to take. How could I not, considering Harrison Owen’s generous gift of Open Space Technology to us 40 years ago, which he never sold, certified, or commercialized. All he asked is that we share our experiences and learn together. In that spirit and with much love for our shared work, I offer an excerpt chapter titled: *Open Space: A Brave Act <https://www.dropbox.com/s/uiup9ulnls60gue/Chapter%2026_%20Open%20Space%20a%20Brave%20Act.pdf?dl=0>.* Amongst other things, it speaks to the fact that we still have our work cut out for us. It's a reflection of the challenge that Harrison put out to all of us at International House a few years ago, with his provocative question: *“How do we engage 8 billion people in meaningful conversations!”* A good place to continue those and others conversations in January is virtually—for the two decades before, it happened at International House in NYC. Harrison's bigger than life question is deeply tied to the timeless theme of "Opening Space for Peace and High Performance." Always special to meet together. I'm going and hope you can too. Happening January 13-15th, 2023. Here the link to Register <https://osius.org/peace-high-performance-2023?fbclid=IwAR1GLGO3WnVmAKmRz9KBBX3Sdm70bc6CMtx0C059PtEvjTdyMTXLck7AnTM> With love always, Suzanne Daigle Open Space Facilitator suzanne@suzannedaigle.com 203-722-2009 Sarasota, Florida