Happy Saturday

[Peggy Archuleta]

Happy Saturday Friends,

I’ve been thinking of you often and wondering if you are still pondering CONNECTION.  I certainly am.  As I do so, I have moments of confusion, discouragement, and sometimes clarity and a sense of satisfaction.  Just when I think I’ve completely lost everything I learned at the IIT, including the inspiration and motivation, something happens that makes me realize that “I’m here with this person, fully present, and it feels good.”  I’m thinking about offering a NVC class at the hospital, but I really could use some review and re-energizing first.

I’m reading a very interesting book written by Scott Jurek, a world-champion ultra marathon runner, called Eat and Run.  At one point he tells about a time when a friend asked him to be his pacer near in an ultra marathon.  Scott was used to running and winning, but he wasn’t used to being responsible for someone else’s success, and he became very anxious when the time neared to join his friend and begin coaching him to the end of the race.  Scott said this in his book, “I dealt with my anxiety the same way I had dealt with my bum ankle in [a previous marathon.]  Four simple steps:  First, I let myself worry.  Second, I took stock.  I would be doing the equivalent of a 38-mile training run with someone who had been running for the better part of a day—not a huge deal.  Third, I asked myself what I could do to remedy the situation.  That was easy.  All I had to do was be a good pacer.  The fourth and final step:   Separate my negative feelings from the issue at hand.  Realizing that my negative feelings had little to do with reality made this step the easiest of all.”

I felt that I was reading a combination of Marshall Rosenberg and Byron Katie and a few others.  I heard another interesting thought today, and I think Christopher McDougall (Born to Run) said it:  “We are either loving what we are doing or we are just waiting for it to be over with.” (These may not be the exact words.)   Something to think about...

I hope you are all well. 

Much love,

Peggy

[Susan Kaplan]

Hi Peggy,

I hope you are doing well this winter day.  Denver finally has relief from the cold with stunningly beautiful sunshine.

Your message was moving to me in several ways.   I am guessing your discouragement or disengagement feels troubling and you would enjoy more consistent connection.  Is that connection to yourself or with the IIT community?  I wasn't clear who you were longing to connect with.

I also hear how excited you become when you do feel a connection - there was an aliveness that seemed to jump off the email message when you began to speak of what inspires you.  I am guessing that this inspiration stirs something deep within you so that you can feel more alive or able to move into action.

Go Girl - your trainings would be incredible!  If I can be supportive of your trainings, please let me know.  I am excited that you are thinking about sharing this work at the hospital.  The courage and love of this work is inspiring to me to hear.

What comes up for me in reading your message, is  to share my own learning curve at this point in time.

What I find in daily living is the invitation to be present to whatever is arising in me and hold it with presence and grace.  Even if it is confusion, discouragement or clarity and what I might interpret as success.  This is when I am living NVC and able to connect to myself with a fullness.  Even if I am not getting my needs met from others, I can hold the importance of my own need with gentleness and attention - and perhaps I can meet that need.  I always feel a shift if I can truly track my own feelings and needs.

So for me during this year of grief - I first open my heart to my self - of the feeling of sadness, being lost and loneliness.  Even if I don't do anything else, I can feel a shift in just knowing that my heart is needing some attention.  Then I can choose to call a friend or just be with my heart's call for presence.  I couldn't have grieved with this life-giving process without this presence and loving kindness to my self.  I think that sometimes I am surprised at the needs that arise from the emotions - perhaps a longing for intimacy, to know that I matter, to have fun and playfulness, to be reassured, love and care, .....the needs that arise surprise me at times!

 

In my Kabbalah class - Communication as a Spiritual Practice I shared the concepts of Narrow Mind and Spacious Mind.  It is a concept in Judaism about how we move from one to the other.   Narrow mind is when we are disconnected from our self, others and God.  Spacious Mind is when we can feel the beauty and the interconnectedness in a life-giving way.   I have attached some handouts on this.  

I spent over a year practicing with this concept along with NVC - just tracking when I am in Narrow or Spacious Mind.  If I found myself in Narrow mind - if I can acknowledge the difficult or challenging feelings and/or unmet needs - and by just doing this I am able to move into spacious mind.  It is a fluid process - moving along the infinity symbol - ever flowing back and forth.  

As I understand NVC, for me, it is not to get rid of the narrow mind - but rather to live more fully into this fluidity  and create a bigger cycle of being in spacious mind.

[Peggy Archuleta]

Hi Susan,

 

I truly appreciate your perceptive and insightful response.  I would say that I am longing for a more consistent connection with myself AND with all others.  Your description of the Narrow Mind and Spacious Mind describes my ongoing experience so well.  My movement back and forth along that infinity symbol sometimes feels more like a roller coaster ride than a gentle flow. 

 

You wrote:  “...I can hold the importance of my own need with gentleness and attention...”  You also used the words, “presence and grace.”  The gentleness and attention, presence and grace sometimes seem to be missing for me.  I was also struck by your phrase, “I can feel a shift in just knowing that my heart is needing some attention.” I love that acknowledgement and plan to use that exact phrase, “My heart is needing some attention,” as the need arises. 

 

Susan, thank you so much for your words of wisdom.  Your thoughts have nourished my soul and enriched me beyond words.   

 

Love,

Peggy

 

 

 

---

[Susan Kaplan]

Dear Peggy,

I am so enjoying your words and our connection via the internet.  Your questions and conversation always enriches my day.

Wish we could go out for a warm cup of tea!

Be well.

In peace,

Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A., R.Y.T.

Listening & Leading From Within ~

Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Yoga Teacher, Storyteller & Story Listener®

• Courage & Renewal Facilitator®   
• Accredited Facilitator, Rocky Mountain Center for Compassionate Communication
• CNVC Candidate for Certified Trainer 
• Yoga Teacher - Mindful Yoga
• Storyteller & Story Listener®

(303) 871-8469

P.O. Box 102379, Denver, CO   80250-2379

kap...@earthlink.net

www.susankaplanmsw.com

Facebook:  Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A.

[Amy Vossen Vukelic]

Giovanna,

 

Thanks for your Facebook posts about the Venezuelan uprising, and the violence that is erupting. While i cannot understand all of the words, your posts have inspired me to look for stories and updates in language that i can understand. Personally knowing you creates a deeper well for me to stay with the pieces that intellectually I need more time with....i spend the time because I know you, and feel connected to your pain.

 

Hopped on today to let you know that I am holding Venezuela and you in my heart and prayers.

 

Peace,

amy

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[Giovanna Alvarez]

Dear friends,

Thank you Amy for your words and prayers. I am sitting here writing to you overwhelmed with anguish and profound sadness around the wellbeing of the people in my country.  I am having trouble putting in writing everything that's going on with me right now. My entire family is in Venezuela.  I am scared for their safety, I feel powerless around what I can do to support them. I know I need to stay calm, pray. I am failing at the only thing I can do. I am having a very hard time focusing, I'm having trouble focusing to pray and certainly I am not calm. I guess I am writing to you because I need support in the form of prayer for those of you that pray. Also I wanted to make you aware of what's going on in Venezuela since there is no freedom of press and the only access to information in Venezuela is through Facebook and twitter. So I will attach 2 links ( the first one is short video 6 min " whats going on in Venezuela in a nutshell ", the second one is an article of what this conflict has evolved into)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFS6cP9auDc&ytsession=g99l-7g7MIX00okMHric9Egf65eUinbOPOURb_zz3I6ylc7i5zfH4fcufS190rLrDPFeOZNtqWTU-tCKXL8a6umTC4Nwni4HiwvpwbJGCh88g5q0RKtpOf3-e2KUMd6qApzV0QNnUdq5X4m3bcR_2iaISemUKVmWDVhUOqyvtjKwOllveMN-KyIjTkihG2kS86kVucjy4JR8cD7G2jIgE6RkAPP9T63QHqdAP2Caqr-8NUUcK3-G5TiZAanC_ig6E5N-bzL5m-auSKPAoOvexnifcKPxCZI5HNHP0E3da4jM2OMAwAxk2lFwQ6lNVNxuJKNyYlG-0Hs&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEFS6cP9auDc%26ytsession%3Dg99l-7g7MIX00okMHric9Egf65eUinbOPOURb_zz3I6ylc7i5zfH4fcufS190rLrDPFeOZNtqWTU-tCKXL8a6umTC4Nwni4HiwvpwbJGCh88g5q0RKtpOf3-e2KUMd6qApzV0QNnUdq5X4m3bcR_2iaISemUKVmWDVhUOqyvtjKwOllveMN-KyIjTkihG2kS86kVucjy4JR8cD7G2jIgE6RkAPP9T63QHqdAP2Caqr-8NUUcK3-G5TiZAanC_ig6E5N-bzL5m-auSKPAoOvexnifcKPxCZI5HNHP0E3da4jM2OMAwAxk2lFwQ6lNVNxuJKNyYlG-0Hs&has_verified=1

http://caracaschronicles.com/2014/02/20/the-game-changed/

with love and gratitude,

Giovanna

[Michael Hackett]

Giovanna, I am praying right now for you your family for Venezuela ,

I am hearing you do the best you can do right now !!

Who do we know in this country in politics that can ask our government and people to intervene,

Let me pray awhile call me at 828 980 0843828 980 0843 day or night  your shoulder to lean on

Michael.

Call

Send SMS

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 "Go raibh mille maith agat"
May you have a thousand goodness's

TheCelticJourney.com

Michael J Hackett.

828 980 0843828 980 0843.

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[Alison Squier]

Dear Giovanna,

I am holding you, your family and friends and people of Venezuela in communion in my heart.  Thank you for drawing our attention to what is currently going on.  I can picture your face as I write this and feel the warmth of spirit that I always sense when I see your face or hear your voice.  I imagine the uncertainty, fear and sadness that you are probably feeling right now.  Concern for the safety of your family and friends and the ongoing and heightened uncertainty about the future of your home country.  I feel such sadness for the suffering and confusion. 

I am at an NVC retreat right now and shared a request that those who felt moved to do so also join in prayer however that is for them for peace and sanity and safety for all mothers, fathers, children, sisters and brothers.  

May all be safe, may all have happiness, may all have well being. 

With great affection and wishes for goodness,

Alison

[Susan Kaplan]

Dear Giovanna,

I can hear your anguish for your family and your country.  The reassurance you are longing for is so important.

And I am guessing that your connection to us - IIT community - is a helpful strategy to take some control in your life - to help educate us on what is happening.  I am so glad that you are reaching out.  I will send this info out to friends to help spread the word on what is happening.

I wanted you to know that you are not alone - that I am sending you energy, prayers and love.  It is much you are holding right now.

I could offer an empathy skype call if that would be supportive to you.  Otherwise, please continue to use our google group to stay connected with us.

Much love to you.

In peace,

Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A., R.Y.T.

Listening & Leading From Within ~

Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Yoga Teacher, Storyteller & Story Listener®

• Courage & Renewal Facilitator®   
• Accredited Facilitator, Rocky Mountain Center for Compassionate Communication
• CNVC Candidate for Certified Trainer 
• Yoga Teacher - Mindful Yoga
• Storyteller & Story Listener®

(303) 871-8469

P.O. Box 102379, Denver, CO   80250-2379

kap...@earthlink.net

www.susankaplanmsw.com

Facebook:  Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A.

[Peggy Archuleta]

Dear Giovanna,

 

I just got back from being of town.  I wasn’t able to respond to your email until I got back, and I have been thinking about you every day.  I went to the link you sent and also read the article.  My heart goes out to you, and absolutely I will pray for you, your family and all of Venezuela.  I will also ask my family and friends to do the same.  I have been amazed to find that most people I’ve spoken to are unaware of what is happening there, and it must be very frustrating, frightening and discouraging for people to feel unseen and unheard in their suffering.  Giovanna, I want to tell you that you are not failing in doing what you can do.  You let us know about the situation, we will let others know, and there will be many prayers and much healing energy generated.  I hope that you can feel our love and support.

 

Please keep us informed as your family’s safety and any updated information you receive.  As Michael said, call ANYTIME if you just need a listening ear or anything else.

Love,

Peggy

623-628-5150

 

---

From: Giovanna Alvarez [mailto:giova...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 2:33 PM
To: Amy Vossen Vukelic; parch...@cox.net; june-2013-iit-i...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [June 2013 IIT] Thinking of you, Giovanna!!!

Dear friends,

 

Thank you Amy for your words and prayers. I am sitting here writing to you overwhelmed with anguish and profound sadness around the wellbeing of the people in my country.  I am having trouble putting in writing everything that's going on with me right now. My entire family is in Venezuela.  I am scared for their safety, I feel powerless around what I can do to support them. I know I need to stay calm, pray. I am failing at the only thing I can do. I am having a very hard time focusing, I'm having trouble focusing to pray and certainly I am not calm. I guess I am writing to you because I need support in the form of prayer for those of you that pray. Also I wanted to make you aware of what's going on in Venezuela since there is no freedom of press and the only access to information in Venezuela is through Facebook and twitter. So I will attach 2 links ( the first one is short video 6 min " whats going on in Venezuela in a nutshell ", the second one is an article of what this conflict has evolved into)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFS6cP9auDc&ytsession=g99l-7g7MIX00okMHric9Egf65eUinbOPOURb_zz3I6ylc7i5zfH4fcufS190rLrDPFeOZNtqWTU-tCKXL8a6umTC4Nwni4HiwvpwbJGCh88g5q0RKtpOf3-e2KUMd6qApzV0QNnUdq5X4m3bcR_2iaISemUKVmWDVhUOqyvtjKwOllveMN-KyIjTkihG2kS86kVucjy4JR8cD7G2jIgE6RkAPP9T63QHqdAP2Caqr-8NUUcK3-G5TiZAanC_ig6E5N-bzL5m-auSKPAoOvexnifcKPxCZI5HNHP0E3da4jM2OMAwAxk2lFwQ6lNVNxuJKNyYlG-0Hs&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEFS6cP9auDc%26ytsession%3Dg99l-7g7MIX00okMHric9Egf65eUinbOPOURb_zz3I6ylc7i5zfH4fcufS190rLrDPFeOZNtqWTU-tCKXL8a6umTC4Nwni4HiwvpwbJGCh88g5q0RKtpOf3-e2KUMd6qApzV0QNnUdq5X4m3bcR_2iaISemUKVmWDVhUOqyvtjKwOllveMN-KyIjTkihG2kS86kVucjy4JR8cD7G2jIgE6RkAPP9T63QHqdAP2Caqr-8NUUcK3-G5TiZAanC_ig6E5N-bzL5m-auSKPAoOvexnifcKPxCZI5HNHP0E3da4jM2OMAwAxk2lFwQ6lNVNxuJKNyYlG-0Hs&has_verified=1

 

http://caracaschronicles.com/2014/02/20/the-game-changed/

 

 

with love and gratitude,

Giovanna

On Thursday, February 20, 2014 8:12 AM, Amy Vossen Vukelic <amyvo...@aol.com> wrote:

[Bruce Campbell]

Dear Giovanna,

I wanted to join my voice with the others to assure you that your anguish and fear are heard.  My wish is for safety for your family and peace for you.

Much love,

Bruce

[Giovanna Alvarez]

Friends,

Your love and prayers have been holding me these past couple of days. Thank you so much for your words and support. This has been a very difficult week and every time I receive and read your messages I feel such warmth, love and community. I'm reminded we are not alone. 

My mom was supposed to come yesterday morning from Caracas to help me move (I'm moving to Miami next week), however the protest and the crime out in the street made it very dangerous for her to ride all the way to the airport at 2:30 am to catch a flight scheduled at 6 am. When I found myself asking my mother if the cab that could pick her up was bullet prove, fear overpowered me and I had to stop and ask her not to come. Having my mom expose herself like that seemed crazy, at the same time I was longing for her to get out of there and be safe! but what about the rest of people? are we going to leave and just hand over an entire country out of fear? By the grace of God and in a moment of clarity I remembered to pray "not my will but yours be done" being reminded of something I read "the safest place to be is in the will of God" I told this to my mom. I begged her to do just that, she agreed. She made it here safely! I know she came to be with me for a week and help me move, I know she came because she couldn't bare my anguish that far away, I know she will go back to our country because she is not giving it up out of fear and I know that while I couldn't pray you where doing it for me. THANK YOU!

with great love and gratitude for each one of you!

Giovanna

P.S. Today hundred of thousands of people joined in a peaceful protests in several cities in Venezuela and many cities around the world for peace, freedom and democracy. I'm encouraged and also know it's a process where we all need to cooperate. Thanks for your contribution to our peace!

[Giovanna Alvarez]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ieI8uVL6wo&sns=em

[Amy Vossen Vukelic]

active surrender....in the face of fear. and now your Mother is with you. May peace be with every Mother and Child in Venezuela, and may you capture the essence of your relationship with your Mom while she enjoys the blessed time to help in an "ordinary" move from one city to the next. Thanks for sharing your vulnerability, Giovanna. Again.

 

much love to all of us in this community,

amy

[Douglas P Dolstad]

Dearest Giovanna,

Barb and I extend our hearts and hands.   Know that in this far off corner of the world there are two among many who care and are helping to spread the word.  Thank you for reaching out.  

Yes, do take care of yourself dear one.  Your strength will be needed - if not now, soon.  Let us know how we might also help.  

Doug and Barb

Douglas P Dolstad

Vashon Island, Cascadia Bioregion

[Susan Kaplan]

Much love to you Giovanna,

how sweet the embrace of love and care when fear is so expansive and real!

Still sending you prayers and love.

here are two things I want to send to you, hoping to reassure you of care and love.

lovingkindness meditation

May you be safe.

may you be healthy

may you be peaceful

may you be at ease

may your family be safe

may your family be healthy

may your family be peaceful

may your family be at ease

may your family of country be safe

may your family of country be healthy

may your family of country be peaceful

may your family of country be at ease

May all beings be safe

May all beings be healthy

May all beings be peaceful

May all beings be at ease.

There is a story about a Rabbi that is walking on the road with his students.  They notice a carriage coming down the road, with horses running as fast as they can.  The dust from their hooves raised up into the heavens.  The carriage came closer and closer, neither slowing down nor veering to the side.  At the last moment, the rabbi and his students jumped for their lives into the ditch by the side of the road.  The carriage continued on as the dust sprayed upon them.  

With effort they got up out of the mud and dust, climbing back onto the road.  The rabbi turned immediately and shouted,  "May all of your

deepest desires be satisfied." 

The students were angry.  "Why would you wish something so good for those in the carriage?!" the students shouted out.

"Do you really think," replied the rabbi, "that if their deepest desires were satisfied, they would go around treating others as they treated us?"

So I hope that those who are bringing violence to this situation be able to have their needs met by other life-giving strategies.

Thus I add to the lovingkindness meditation

May they (those who are brining violence to your country) be safe

may they be healthy

may they be peaceful

may they be at ease.

May things shift quickly to reduce the fear and may all be safe and peaceful.

I feel nervous sending these two things and wonder if you are receiving them with the same intention of love and care that is my intention.

Would you let me know - when you have time - if this type of support is helpful and if these two items were meaningful to you?

Much love.

In peace,

Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A., R.Y.T.

Listening & Leading From Within ~

Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Yoga Teacher, Storyteller & Story Listener®

• Courage & Renewal Facilitator®   
• Accredited Facilitator, Rocky Mountain Center for Compassionate Communication
• CNVC Candidate for Certified Trainer 
• Yoga Teacher - Mindful Yoga
• Storyteller & Story Listener®

(303) 871-8469

P.O. Box 102379, Denver, CO   80250-2379

kap...@earthlink.net

www.susankaplanmsw.com

Facebook:  Susan Kaplan, M.S.W., M.P.A.

[Helene Douville]

Giovanna,

I also want you to know, thoughts of you and your family are being held closely in my heart and my prayers.

Much Love,
Helene
--------------------------------------------

On Mon, 2/24/14, Douglas P Dolstad <dpdo...@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Re: [June 2013 IIT] Thinking of you, Giovanna!!!

To: "Giovanna Alvarez" <giova...@yahoo.com>
Cc: "Amy Vossen Vukelic" <amyvo...@aol.com>, "parch...@cox.net" <parch...@cox.net>, "june-2013-iit-i...@googlegroups.com" <june-2013-iit-i...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Monday, February 24, 2014, 6:00 AM