Connection is much more than having a mutual understanding between people; it also happens inside of ourselves, to connect with the life energy inside us that is seeking fulfillment. In the practice of nonviolent communication (NVC), we call this life energy universal human needs. By listening to our needs, we not only acknowledge them, but we also listen to the desire that they are conveying to us in the moment. When we act in harmony with our needs, we're more likely to experience feelings of celebration. Acknowledging our needs also opens up a natural curiosity to everything outside ourselves. We begin to feel compassion towards others, allowing us to see and appreciate their needs too — making connection more likely.
Furthermore, we may also experience a sense of connection to the natural "more-than-human" world, connecting us with trees, rocks, birds and deer -- this is more likely if we're in a natural environment. Besides feeling awe, gratitude and joy, sometimes the connection inspires poetry. Here’s a poem I caught after backpacking with my son last week.
Three December nights
in the Ventana Wilderness;
frost each morning.
a warm window
into Mother home
— on the land
untouched
by modern designs —
accompanied by my son,
deserted from other humans.
Landscape scarred by fire 🔥
blackened skeletons standing.
heavy rains dissolve the ashes
feeding sprouting survivors.
Streams dance
through muddy
patches of trail,
slippery as hell
heavy on boots 🥾
lucky to stay upright.
Rock carvings
from ancestors
connected to the land
scattered by alien
good intentions.
“Los Padres” - a testament
of impact unaware.
Layered caves
from smoothed earth underwater
hold people’s lit fires
alive in many hearts.
Solid plates
once flat mesas
now raised half-length
on one end
barely support climbing.
Stones jagged
in whitish brown
red streaks painted
by unseen hands.
trickling sounds
welcome guests;
large dinosaur egg
keeps flat rock company
good for gathering water.
Black stones
hidden
by daylight
radiate glitters
of red delight
after dusk
helps
the recall
of magic.
Words,
images
do not capture
the essence
of experience;
they do help
to remember
the timeless flow
of being
raptured
by Mystery
living beauty
magnified
when shared
gives meaning
to “love.”
Overjoyed my son Alex
joined on the adventure.
Cover photo by Alex M. Prieto-Rivero
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