“We offer them a soft place to land”, was the expression said by Linford Detweiler, at the No Where Else Festival about how they treat their artists and participants.* And it was true – the attention to kindness in the details was evident everywhere in this festival’s selection of highly curated musicians. poets and conversations.
I started noticing: The compliments flowed from every artist to the next, the love communicated being palpable and authentic. The offerings of food and drinks were attentive to those with alternative habits. The setting was beautiful and beautifully organized. Everyone was very kind. So, it made me consider what is included in finding a soft place to land?
See what you think.
KINDNESS FLOWS
When you go somewhere and people are kind and responsive to you, it makes you notice. The smiles, the greetings, politeness and genuine interest are the hallmarks of a place being open and receptive to newcomers and regulars. We had it at the festival and here in Lexington. It is one of the reasons the artists we bring here like it so much. I realize now we give them “a soft place to land”.
YOUR NEEDS ARE GIVEN ATTENTION
Consider how the people around you respond to your needs. Are they respected and given credence with positive and reliable appreciation? This comes through in the ways someone values your comments, the way someone anticipates your needs, and to how they attend to your requests. There is no room in anyone’s life for snarky comments, mean-spirited responses or unwillingness to be respectful. You want to feel validated.
YOU CAN RELAX
When you are given a soft place to land, you can relax, breathe deeply and feel like you have come home to a responsive community. It’s a sign that you can trust the people you’re around, trust that you’ll be treated with respect and trust that the experience will be positive. It was deeply gratifying to witness and feel these values modeled in every detail. While I was there only one day, it felt transformative because everyone was being given a soft place to land.
How much of your life experience offers a soft place to land? Reach out if you would like to explore it.
