February 2, 2010

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Elephants Poop!

February 2, 2010 by david | No comments

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 :-P ) 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 :-P

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.