February 2010

Hello,

I just updated my calendar and wanted to share it with you!  Contact me if you have any questions or would like to register for any of the courses!

February

2/26 Ocean Beach (6:00 to 8:30) – Start with Your Heart (To make the world a better place) – Introduction to Compassionate Communication. A free training in the Community Room of the People’s Coop in Ocean Beach.

Registration is strongly encouraged to reserve a space.

Contact David McCain (619-218-7554) or davidrmccain@cox.net.

2/27 Banker’s Hill (6:30 to ???) – Potluck and Playshop in Banker’s HIll.  A SDNVC group MEET-UP. An opportunity to meet other San Diego Giraffes and have some fun!  Please bring a dish to serve 4.  Contact David McCain for details (619-218-7554)

March

3/11 through 4/15 Banker’s Hill (Six consecutive Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00) Six Week Practice-Learning Community – I envision that the group will meet people’s needs for safety (allowing them to be vulnerable), learning, and support.  I enjoy the depth of connection that NVC enables and I look forward to hosting a practice group that helps increase people’s ability to experience happiness in their lives.  I see the group as an experiment in connection and I invite you to participate in it’s “in-the-moment” co-creation. Contact me to reserve a space!

3/17 Hillcrest (6:30 – 9:00) Be the Change in 2010: Introduction to Compassionate Communication – First UU Church (4190 Front). Ghandi said it as did Michael Jackson:  To change the world, first change yourself.  Learn how Compassionate Communication can facilitate the process.

RSVP to David McCain (619-218-7554) or davidrmccain@cox.net.

3/22 Hillcrest (6:30 – 9:00) The Seven Keys to Well-Being: Concrete Steps to a Higher Quality of Life – First UU Church (4190 Front). This is an introduction to my life coaching framework.  I’ll offer a self-assessment on the keys to guide our evening.

RSVP to David McCain (619-218-7554) or davidrmccain@cox.net.

3/31 Ocean Beach (6:00 to 8:30) – Start with Your Heart (To make the world a better place) – Introduction to Compassionate Communication.  Description (From People’s Newsletter): Experience the best tools I’ve found to support personal transformation (inspiring) through songs (original), puppet play (dramatic), and interactive exercises (connecting).  Please bring your whole (100% organic) self and your thirst for authenticity, playfulness, and learning (fun)!

Registration is strongly encouraged to reserve a space. RSVP to David McCain (619-218-7554) or davidrmccain@cox.net.

April

4/14, 21, and 28 (6:30 pm to 9:30 pm)- First UU Church, Foundations of Compassionate Living - A 9-hour exploration of Compassionate (Nonviolent) Communication for those with introductory knowledge. To register contact Dave at 619-218-7554 or davidrmccain@cox.net.

May

5/28 – 6/4 (Richmond, Virginia) Living Energy of Needs Training.  This training is led by the Nonviolent Communication Training Institute.  These folks have developed the perspective on Compassionate Communication that has guided me from “analog” to “digital” NVC.  Let me know if you are interested in attending with me.  Maybe we could car pool (airplane pool?)

Changing the world isn’t as hard as you might think as we don’t see it as IT is, we see it as WE are.

Hello!

I’m on a yahoogroup for NVC Certification Candidates.  I just responded to a post that “debunked” the myth of the Giraffe having the “largest heart of any land animal” (A phrase I share at many trainings).  Apparently, the elephant has a MUCH larger heart.   Here’s my response

Dave

——-

Hey,

Here’s my reaction to the news on the Giraffe Heart Size Myth: Say it ain’t so!!!  I have to change all my materials now (lol).  I offer the following in the spirit of play and with some clarity that symbols are helpful tools that are somewhat arbitrary.  I think a stone or a hamburger or a bad case of the flu could be the symbol of NVC.  Hmmm, blog ideas

Seriously, though, I, for one, think we should (I use this word deliberately ) consider shifting to the elephant as the symbol of NVC.  Here’s a few reasons why:

1. Memory – An elephant remembers everything just as a “compassionate person” remembers everything so they can call up their examples of bad stuff other people did sixteen years ago. Right?
2. The Heart (as mentioned) – 60 pounds. That’s like a sack of rice! That elephant is really connected to him or herself. Wow!
3. Leathery Skin – An elephant can likely withstand hurricanes, arrows, and certainly the barbs and thorns of living.  S/he’s tough like a compassionate person.  Thick-skinned!
   

   

4. Trunk – An elephant has a long, playful trunk that allows him/her to shoot water to cool him/herself, to quench his/her thirst and to have water fights with other jungle/savannah creatures. What fun!
5. Big Feet – The elephant’s big feet mean s/he isn’t afraid to step on toes to get his/her needs met.  S/he’s also able to be fully present to the pain that s/he may trigger when s/he stomps on a panther’s paw.  Hmmm.  I’m wondering if s/he would smash those toes into oblivion instead of just stepping on them.  Not sure what to do with that.
6. Calm and quick – An elephant is versatile!  S/he moves with a calm, flowy gait much of the time in thoughtful consideration of the miracle of life (and in search of the location of his/her watering hole). AND they can run 24 miles per hour (or so the internet says:) for short periods.  S/he would give Ussain Bolt a run for the gold!
7. Likes nuts – Doing the work of creating a compassionate world means you tend to be around folks that aren’t following the “traditional”, “culturally-appropriate” ways of being and living. These folks could be, with a judgmental lens, called “nuts”.  I believe I am, and we are, a bunch of “nuts” (again, I’m speaking in a playful-serious way).  Liking “nuts” like us (and those we work with) is part of the elephant path
8. Beautiful Painted Toe Nails (I just thought of this one) — The elephant values beauty and expressing this value by going to the local nail salon twice a week for a painting!  NVC invites all of us to appreciate the beauty all around us! (I’m going to schedule a pedicure this week as my toes are really not looking so good:-/)

and, lastly, but not leastly…

Elephants Poop! Big time!  80 pounds a day!  This means they are skilled at seeing the beauty in all things and adept at “expelling” the b.s.  I hope you practice the elephant way and expell anything that I’ve written that you don’t deem beautiful!

Wheee! That was fun!  I’d enjoy hearing any general reactions and any creative attempts to describe why the following are symbols of NVC:  shards of glass, palm fronds, jammed fingers or tribbles (from Star Trek).

Dave McCain
Yet-to-be certified “Elephant Language” Trainer

The heart laughs and cackles knowing that now is where we are all meant to be and that we are meant to Communicate with Heart.