Dear First name / Friend

 

Driving in the car the other day, as my kids school year comes to a close, I invited us all to reflect on lessons learned and skills developed. After some thought, I shared that I am learning to listen. My husband smiled in agreement:)

 

As I build my understanding of the heart brain, I am realizing the multidimensional nature of true listening. So often we think of communication through words and content — yet around 70% of communication is nonverbal! Further, we are socially reinforced for speaking up, often noting it as a sign of confidence. Extraversion praised. 

 

 

While teaching my year-long neurobiology and compassion training (my first year of students just graduated!!)  we dove into listening and I offered this image from my teacher Bonnie Badenoch. 

 

The Chinese sign for the verb “to listen” makes room for the multidimensionality – it reminds us what is required in the act of listening. 

I have spent many years dedicated to listening (20 years as a therapist!). And I am humbled by the art. My current growth edge lies in tuning into the river of wisdom running through my body, calling (sometimes screaming) for me to listen. Intuition lies within the body – we just need to learn the language.

 

 

So I am heeding the call. We moved out of our house and into the forest. We are temporarily renting out our primary residence (which has running water) and going to spend most of the summer “glamping” (with an outhouse) on our land outside of town. We have this beautiful tent, along with a small tiny house we built years ago.

 

I hope to do a lot of writing, spending time with family, and harvesting plant medicines like Elderberry, Rose, Strawberries, and more!