About

Blog about my experiences as I use a language of the heart. "Compassionate Connecting" describes my intention to facilitate communication and contribute to deepening relationships between people, within groups and organizations through the practice of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) james.prieto@compassionateconnecting.com

What is Nonviolent Communication (NVC)?
NVC invites language awareness based on work by Marshall Rosenberg that is sometimes called compassionate communication. Its purpose is to strengthen our ability to inspire compassion from others and to respond compassionately to others and to ourselves. NVC guides us to reframe how we express ourselves and hear others by focusing on what we are observing, feeling, needing and requesting.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU!

I am celebrating the victory of my "alma mater" the Kansas University (KU) Jayhawks in the NCAA Men's National Championship tonight. I typically don't watch sports on television, since I prefer to actually participate in them. But this year, I was drawn to their basketball team as they advanced through the tournament.

I watched the semi-finals while in Santa Barbara this weekend. It was fun to hang out with my friend Dave, and to meet other Jayhawk fans from around the country. I introduced myself to several of them and we had our own little KU cheering community.

Tonight, I had several friends come over to my place to cheer KU onto victory. It actually looked pretty grim, in the second half with only 2 minutes left, the Jayhawks were down by 9 points. It seemed almost miraculous that we tied and went into overtime. I was ecstatic, excited and happy as our team played so well in the final minutes. I got to jump, yell, whistle, and "high 10" my friends after it was all over. I couldn't believe it!

I enjoy the KU basketball tradition and having the Jayhawk as our mascot, which has come to symbolize spirit of comradeship associated with efforts to keep Kansas a free state during the Civil War. And so, I find myself striving for freedom for myself and others around me, and finding more and more as I get clear on my own reality, and by communicating with others through empathy and honesty. And the freedom, as well as the joy that I feel tonight after sharing an evening with my friends is worth celebrating. I am grateful to live in a home, with basic needs for safety, justice and sustenance met, and wish that the rest of humanity could say the same.

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