Blog #3: "Fiction is the truth inside the lie." ~ Stephen King

You nor I would normally turn to myths, legends, fairy tales and folklore to embody your literary archetype in a group project setting. But as I divulged deeper into finding what I represent in a group, the more I see the ancient stories that have shaped cultures for hundreds, or even thousands of years, come into my life.

Within in a group setting, I sometimes see myself as the Harmonizer, adding calm back into the chaos, neutralizing a situation that was once going to shambles. Because sometimes, it happens. The group falls of out "harmony" - disagreements, misunderstandings, or even the pure lack of chemistry between group members to work efficiently, can cause about as much hectic disorder as trying to recover your sister's head from a gang of troll girls, like in the old tale from Norway, "Mop Top." I believe it to be very valuable to have a harmonizer - not just because I claim I am one (I'm not that conceited), but because if the whole group isn't in this "harmony" where it will flourish, make sure at least one person is.

But perhaps one of the, if not THE most important aspect of group dynamics is to be able to give and to take. To offer ones' ideas or thoughts, like a gift, in exchange for something even better; the group works in a way the makes each person better. All you need to do is be a Wali Dad - offer kindness selflessly, and you will be reciprocated with kindness yourself. Never asking anything in return, but hoping through a naive faith in humanity, you make someone a better person, a form of communicating in a kind, not sour, manner. I like to think that I am a Coordinator in a group - opening up the communication channels in a group, so every individual understands each others' ideas and opinions, to then find what works best by encouraging (or tastefully discouraging) each other to create the best product. No one man should be the best or the worst in the group - however, if you find this is happening, perhaps "The Gifts of Wali Dad," a beautiful Indian/Pakistani folktale, could shed some light through the block you and your team members have formed. Communication, in the kindest of ways, is the answer to many of your group's problems.