One of the skills that Marshall Rosenberg discusses in Nonviolent Communication : A Language of Life is expressing our needs. He states that, in an ideal world, other people should be sensitive to my needs. But, by the same token, I have a responsibility to tell them what my needs are.
In my former life, I was poor at this. Since I have been involved with my cohousing community, I have been practicing it.
At our weekly shareholders' meeting last night, I asked if we could change the meeting from a Thursday night once a month. This was to accommodate my desire to participate in Sacred Circle Dancing at the Unitarian Fellowship.
Even as I was asking my fellow owners of Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community to consider rescheduling, there was a part of me that felt embarrassed. I thought it was a frivolous request. But, to my delight, everyone else treated it like a perfectly valid desire.
It is gratifying to deal with people who are alive and who support my journey. You guys mean more to me than you can imagine.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You would, no doubt, enjoy "Don't Be Nice, Be Real: Balancing passion for self with compassion for others" by Kelly Bryson. This is one of my favourite books. It's NVC based and a joy to read. Kelly Bryson is incredibly funny! Anyway, it's an amazing book for bring into perspective the importance of recognising and meeting our own needs (not at the expense of other's), not only for our own benefit but for our loved ones as well.
Thanks for the recommendation, Allium. That books sounds as if it's just up my alley. I have added it to my list of books for which to look on my next trip to the public library.
Post a Comment