I was listening to one of my favorite songs on my walk this morning, and I realized that I have listened to this song for over 10 years, and I am continually moved by the words as well as the music. Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom No longer lend your strength to… Continue Reading
Feelings are Road Maps
Feelings are the road map… never the destination. When I forget and stop at the feelings, I can easily slip into resentment and start rehearsing the hurt or disappointment over and over again. I abandon myself and look to the actions of others for the solutions to my pain. When I remember, I let my… Continue Reading
Digging up Weeds
Yesterday I was angry. I read an email that ignited a firestorm in my soul, and I was burning with resentment. My head knew that my reaction was way out of proportion to the present words I read, but my heart was screaming in pain. I looked out my window and saw the overgrown garden.… Continue Reading
Unlikely Friends?
Yesterday I saw this video on Facebook about the friendship of an elephant and a dog who live at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. According to the story, the retired elephants enter the sanctuary one by one, but they find a partner and live out their lives two by two. That statement alone made… Continue Reading
Hurt people hurt people
I listened to a short video of Kelly Bryson speaking about Nonviolent Communication this morning, and his message is exactly what I needed to hear… Many of us live in families and communities where anger and pain is underneath the surface. In order to really have nonviolent communities and nonviolent families, we need to learn… Continue Reading
See Me Beautiful
I love it when I stumble upon something that makes my morning full. This morning it was a song written for children by Red Grammer… “See Me Beautiful” See me beautiful. Look for the best in me. It’s what I really am, and all I wanna be. It make take some time. It may be… Continue Reading
Empathy Defined
One of the foundational skills of Nonviolent Communication is empathy. Empathy is connecting to feelings and needs through listening, watching and noticing what someone is saying, feeling, and doing. Sometimes it is referred to as “listening with understanding.” What does this mean? It means to hear the thoughts and attitudes from the other person’s point… Continue Reading
What does peace look like?
“Everybody has a different picture. Everybody has a different idea. Maybe that’s what peace is — seeing everybody’s idea.” Continue Reading
Making Requests
In the language of NVC (Nonviolent Communication), we are more likely to get our needs met when we make requests that are doable and presented in positive action language. The requests should be as specific and clear as possible. Today I got the opportunity to review a request I have made several times to my… Continue Reading
