I do hope we see you in the alpha! You bring such grace and aloha to the talking you do :-)

I admit I have tempered my expectations a bit up to this point, in the spirit in which alpha tests normally happen – they are highly experimental pilot programs done to expose glitches and whatever we didn’t anticipate. But as I have worked on the behind-the-scenes stuff on this I quickly realized how much I was underestimating our Ho‘ohana Community and the all-in sincerity and commitment to each other that has been cultivated within our virtual sense of place you refer to —not to mention Rick and Abe of Ruzuku, who are also taking the challenge, giving everyone the chance to know them better too. Thus my anticipation grows daily for what we will all learn kākou, as we Ho‘ohana together.

As for measuring the benefits of all of this, the one thing I have learned with certainty is that our returns are directly proportionate to our applied intentions (like in most things I guess), and there is this point where runaway happens if you go the distance. That is a question the alpha poses for me as guide and coach: Will 15 days be enough to set the habit, AND get those who were faithful to the challenge to that runaway point where something magic happens:

One day, someone who has watched you give the D5M to others, or who has been on the receiving end, gives YOU the gift, approaching you and saying: “Do you want to Take 5 with me? I’m ready to listen.”

I know you have been a faithful practitioner of the D5M up to now Rich, and so I am thrilled you are participating, for your experiences as you share them have been so helpful to us. Mahalo Rich, for sharing this comment.

I know I’ve been doing the D5M for a while now, since I first read Managing with Aloha ages ago (well, not AGES, but in internet time it was ages ago) but the idea of intentionally doing it this way… if ruzuku is what I think it might be… it’s like an action day all week with support group and people doing it all at the same time all over the world and it’s very… well it’s very cool is what it is.

The community building aspect of the Internet is talked about by those of us who use the powers of the Internet for good… but and I hope this doesn’t sound too melodramatic, my job’s been a complete steaming pile of stress and frustration lately and this sort of thing is very energizing and positive and helps pull me out of the spiral of exhaustion, burn-out, and fatigue that has been the past few months at work. (Some of it’s seasonal depression from autumn I’m aware of that and waiting for it to pass.) But the community part of the Internet that helps inject new energy and positive attitude and help and support to the islands of people out there… I don’t know if that’s been measured before. I wouldn’t know how to measure it.

Thanks for the program. I look forward to taking part, and it hasn’t even started yet and it’s made a difference in my week and my outlook. I can’t wait to see how things go once it’s actually under way! (No pressure Rosa!)