Hi there friends!
SO nice to hear from you all, and to remember the anniversary of my
foray into NVC -- and really, my foray into adult life and forging my
own path. That IIT was really my first step out of my hometown and
into the broader world... I'm remembering now the deep warmth of
community at our IIT, and the incredible growth and FUN we had
there... Ahhh... I really love you all! Thanks so much for initiating
this, Peggy!
I find myself at this moment in what Tibetan Buddhism might call the
"bardo" state... I'm sort of in-between "lives" at the moment, having
just had some major changes happen all at once: I quit my job, I ended
an 8-month long relationship, and my landlord is selling my house!
Hahaha. I now wait in this slow, quiet, anticipatory zone of "what's
next?" I'm really eagerly looking forward to what's coming, although
my rational mind doesn't know what that is. My heart, however, seems
to know exactly where its going, so I'm following, trusting.... And
inspiration is coming.... :)
To give a bit of an update, I have been living in Seattle since I came
to WA for Family Camp in July 2014. After family camp, I began
interning at Freedom Project in Seattle -- an organization that
presents workshops on NVC and mindfulness within 5 state prisons here.
Last October, Freedom Project hired me full-time as Prison Programs
Director. I was very excited; however, the work took me out of the
prisons, and into the office, where I did incredible amounts of
administrative work, and had to deal with the politics and bureaucracy
of this loveable, yet full-of-growing-pains operation. That is to say:
I was NOT doing my heart's work. Being in the prison as an intern
prior to that had been incredibly gratifying, as we all built
beautiful, heart-felt NVC community together inside prison walls. It
was/is an incredibly dedicated group inside the prison that drank up
NVC like water. But this past May, I decided to quit after an 8-month
jaunt as the Prison Programs Director, and I am so grateful to say
that it was a pretty painless decision. I felt very clear.
In addition to that, I ended a difficult but growthful relationship
back in March, and then a couple months ago, my landlord informed us
he would be selling the house I've been living in for 1.5 years. Ahh,
life. Really keeps me on my toes ;)...
One cool thing I've been LOVING is doing a form of body-based therapy
called Somatic Experiencing, which is a method of resolving trauma, be
it developmental trauma or shock-trauma. It's based off of the work of
Peter Levine, and I've found the work to be incredibly engaging and
profound for me. Has anyone else done this work?
And so for now, in this moment... I'm in Seattle, in this bardo state,
as I pack up my things in this house, thinking about work, travel,
housing... and looking toward the future with excitement. I have a
hankering to do a Vipassana Retreat this July in Southern Washington,
although I'm on a pretty long waiting list, so I'm feeling out what my
heart is yearning for next. It's been a hugely emotional last several
months, and so this summer I'm dedicating to healing and restoring
myself back to state of joy, strength, deep inner certainty, and hope.
I envision quiet, nature, meaningful work, and warm, loving community.
I'll be off to the Midwest for a short time in August for a wedding
and maybe some family time, and who knows what this fall will
bring...! But I'm down for it!
Love you all! Thanks for being in touch! And thanks for sharing,
Peggy, Doug, Marilyn, and Serafina! Glad to know what's been keeping
you and your hearts busy!
Be in touch!
LOVE,
Jenny