(In the following dialogue, “me” is someone or ones in me somewhat close to center. “I” is a variety of identified subpersonalities and egocentric, karmic conditioning.)

Me:   I have wanted to write about participation for months, and I keep getting stuck.  Do you have anything to say about the subject?

I:  Oh, I’m all for participation.  I say “yes” often!  I like being part of a group that is up to something, something meaningful, relevant.  I especially like being a small part of something big.  You know, part of the team, but not very responsible in any particular way.  Kind of good to leave the back door open, you know?  So if it doesn’t seem like it’s going my way at any point, I can just cut out and try something else.

Me:  Hmm. I see.  However, we do sometimes find ourselves with a big role, a major responsibility.  For example, being the “champion” of a major event, seeing it through from start to finish.  How do you like that?

I:  Well, I don’t like that very much, thank you!  Quite frankly, I don’t know how I ever get into such a predicament.  Saying “yes” in a major role makes it really hard to sneak out the back door!  You just end up having to hang in there, and hope it will all be over soon.  Yes, that’s it.  Just do it.  Get it over with.  Then life will be better.  And we will never make that mistake again!!

Me:  I think we’ve done that together many times, haven’t we?  Say “yes,” gut it out, swear never to do it again.

I:  Yes, yes.  We’ve got that one down pretty good!  It’s just about as standard a routine as Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the football.

Me:  And yet, I recently had a different experience.  I’m wondering where you were?  It started out like all the old times together.  I had said “yes” in a big way.  I was keeping the big picture and a lot of little details and helping people move along to an event.  There were many days when we were playing our familiar song and dance routine:  “This is too hard.  I can’t do it.  I quit.” 

And then, and then….. There we were in the midst of the final push of preparations, working fast, focused, staying up late…..all the conditions for dissolving me, with your help, into a puddle of angst and tears.  And yet, and yet…..as I took a brief break and checked in I found that I was HAVING FUN!  A lot of fun!  I said to the folks, “Oh, I just got it.  We really do this because it is so much fun.” 

I:  Obviously, I was not there.  Had I been, you would not have had that experience!  I would never have permitted FUN, and I had better make sure that never happens again.

Me:  Well, it might be harder to pull it off now that I know that fun is possible in these circumstances.  Be present, anytime, anywhere, and fun is possible.  Be somewhere else other than here, and fun is not possible, or at least not likely.  And I might never have seen this had I not said “yes” in the first place.  Participation:  showing up, making a difference, the fast track to ending suffering!