Making space for the messy.
A conversation with June Park about imperfect beginnings, shared spaces, and why the best things rarely arrive fully formed.
The conversation
A conversation with June Park about imperfect beginnings, shared spaces, and why the best things rarely arrive fully formed.
Some of the most useful conversations leave you with something small: a question, a practice, or a new way of seeing the familiar. This episode is an invitation to slow down and make a little space for that.
A few things to take with you
- An unfinished beginning.
- A place to belong.
- Leaving room for surprise.
Try this after listening
Take ten minutes away from your usual routine. Notice one thing you would normally pass by, and write a sentence about it.
Transcript
Alex: Hey, welcome back. I’m Alex, and this is Iris. I used to think that, before you invited people into something, you had to get it all finished. The room, the idea, the project. Everything. But the conversations I remember best usually happened somewhere a little unfinished.
Alex: June Park is an artist and community builder, and she has a lovely way of thinking about that. A table with paint on it. A project that changes when someone new joins in. A door left open. Those things aren’t necessarily mistakes to tidy up. They can be invitations. A way of saying, there’s still room for you here.
Alex: So if you’re waiting for something to be perfect before you share it, maybe try opening the door a little earlier. Ask someone what they see. Let the idea move. You might end up somewhere you couldn’t have planned on your own. I’m glad you’re here. Thanks for spending a bit of your day with Iris.
Mentioned in this episode
Voices in this episode.
June Park
Artist & community builder
June brings people together through art, shared tables, and unfinished ideas. Her practice asks how a space can feel welcoming before it feels complete.
Alex Morgan
Writer, maker & host of Iris
Alex is a writer and maker with a soft spot for questions that take the scenic route. Iris grew out of a wish to spend more time listening to people who see the familiar a little differently.
