Remote Work for Humans

I write in this space about public sector friendly remote work best practices that create the space for people to do their best work. What I haven’t really written about is why I feel compelled to do this work and how it connects to my purpose. Going to my friend’s business launch for her own purpose fueled business and learning Tatreez from her re-affirmed my own purpose and I’d like to share that experience with you.

Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of Shamouti, a Palestinian owned Tatreez business that is preserving culture and giving back to the community with every creation. In case you are not familiar, Tatreez is a traditional Palestinian style of embroidery.

My friend said that when she first learned Tatreez, she felt an instant connection with her ancestors, as if they were guiding her hands. I encourage you to visit her website and read more about her business and Tatreez as she is a gifted storyteller in addition to being a talented Tatreez artist.

It was the honor of a lifetime to witness the launch of Shamouti.

Along with the launch showcasing her brilliant designs, she taught a Tatreez workshop. I’ll share one of the stories from that workshop that made me reflect on my own purpose.

Women who practice Tatreez strive for a “clean back” meaning the back of their embroidered piece is well organized and free of loose threads and knots. Not only does it look satisfying, more importantly, it means that you did not waste your thread. You can create something truly beautiful by moving with intention and searching for ways to connect your Tatreez pattern while preserving thread.

It’s important to note that I’m not a natural at the textile arts. At the start of the workshop, I was barely able to get the fabric over the loop correctly. I was pretty sure I was going to fail Tatreez and be unteachable but I reluctantly gave it a go. After a few stops and starts and with my friend’s expert teaching, I was able to create something beautiful, too – a Tatreez pattern with a clean back!

In sitting in my friend’s light and purpose during her business launch and Tatreez class – my own purpose ended up being reflected back to me. Finding a smooth path, preserving energy, the puzzle of making connections – these things come naturally to me, even, it turns out, when learning something completely unfamiliar. Purpose, uhhh, finds a way I suppose.

I used to think that the way I approached work was lazy. I kept wanting to streamline communication, make workflows more effective, and make everything feel more intentional. I just wanted work to stop feeling so hard but surely that meant I was lazy and didn’t really want to work hard.

Thanks to the Tatreez workshop, I now know that I’ve been trying to preserve the threads of our neural connections. I want to quiet down notification overwhelm. I want to alleviate technostress. I want to be a creative force that helps people imagine more sustainable ways of working. To preserve these threads, to not be wasteful, and to move with intention – there is nothing lazy about that at all.

P.S.

Y’all, Tatreez is no joke. Learning it made me appreciate my friend’s work and dedication and artistry even more.

Share this blog with someone who helped you see your purpose in a new light 💖