April: Introduction
Welcome all.
When I think of our theme for the month, communication, I find myself looking up at almost an entire sky of exploration. Communication is everything. It begins with the development of our inner voice, how we relate to ourselves, and how we speak to the vulnerable beings in our care. From there, it extends outward into how we connect with others and the world around us.
The more we reflect on communication, the more questions emerge. What are we communicating when we practice nonviolence? How does alignment with our values shape not just what we say, but how we show up? And how can we learn to see others more clearly, knowing that this is a shared human struggle?
This topic is vast. And yet, in a nonviolent moment, something becomes clear. We are choosing not to communicate from hatred or vindictiveness, but from a wider sense of self, one that includes others. That choice is an expression of our power. As Simone Weil wrote, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” To communicate in this way is to offer that kind of attention, to ourselves, to others, and to the truth of a situation.
So we begin this month by returning to the New Story, and asking what it can teach us about communication. At its core, communication is about relationship, our relationship to ourselves, to one another, and to all of life. Mahatma Gandhi spoke of satyagraha, holding to truth, as a recognition of our deep interconnectedness. To communicate in alignment with nonviolence is to live into that truth.
Communication has many purposes, but we can choose to align it with the path of nonviolence. It is not only our words, but our thoughts, our perceptions, and even what we do not yet see or understand. Practiced with awareness and care, communication becomes a life-giving force. It can de-escalate harm, deepen connection, and help us embody a message that extends far beyond ourselves, one we would offer to the whole world.
We don’t ever get this perfect all the time, but it is ours to practice. And that’s all that’s really asked of us.
~Stephanie, Executive Director
Please watch this introductory video and share your ideas and thoughts below in the comments.