Trying to succinctly articulate what has impacted me the most about my time spent with KI over the past fourteen weeks has been tough. There is certainly more to say than I will be able to communicate with these brief words.
What comes to me over and over when I reflect on each experience I have with KI is a feeling of family. Each experience was different. Each inspired a different reflective moment. However, taken cumulatively the thing that each moment of reflection had in common was a sense of kinship. Every time I walked through the door of the KI house I felt like I was a part of an entity unto itself. There were parents and siblings all around me, sharing responsibilities for each other and the space they inhabit. There was still work being done and that work was taken seriously, however it was never the work that I took away with me. I rarely left thinking about a particular project or upcoming event. Instead I left thinking about how the passion in that house translates into the community.
For me the thing that stands out the most about KI is their love. Their love for each other translates into a collective love for the community. The minute your path crosses theirs you become a member of their extended family, with all of the responsibilities and privileges that entails. This is what makes KI special. They hold everyone to the same level of accountability, respect, and awareness to which they hold each other. Like in a family, there is no free lunch, membership comes with the burden of caring for others, but that burden is nothing compared to the love, support, inspiration, and encouragement you get in return.
