CURRENT MISSION

Finding and spreading inspiration and skills to live powerfully, authentically, compassionately, and passionately

ABOUT ME

Following the principles of "compassionate" (or "nonviolent") communication (see cnvc.org), I am committed to emotionally honest, mutually respectful, heart-based communication, beyond our cultures' right/wrong thinking, which leads to judgment and alienation. ("The mind creates the abyss, but the heart crosses it.")

After a 20-year marriage (ended Sept '01) and a career as a research computer scientist, I embarked on a three-year personal sabbatical, beginning Oct '02. The sabbatical was a time of exploration for me, connecting with new directions for my creative energies, heart wisdom, and desire to serve. I highly value inner work, to know and grow into my fullness and release any blocks to creativity and connection with others. For me, this work has included meditation, journaling, dreams, shamanic training, and Jungian analysis. During this time, I also met my partner Holly, and we began sharing Compassionate Communication (aka NVC), leading a practice group, and working with private clients. Please see http://awakeningcompassion.com and http://evolve.awakeningcompassion.com/.

These days, some of my time & creative energy have shifted back in to my computer science research. The project closest to my heart is creating a way to enable the creation of software in a right-brain creative mode, rather than the traditional sequential, linguistic, abstract style. My hunch is that this work will enable & inspire new kinds of programs whose creation is nurtured by a concrete and visual environment.

PHILOSOPHY

Live authentically. Listen to my intuition and heart, following what inspires me most. Subject what I hear and what I think to deeply honest rational scrutiny. From my parents, I learned to try on an idea and practice to see whether it works. Avoid judgment, criticism, blame, guilt and all forms of right/wrong. Instead, examine each choice in terms of how well it meets universal needs (e.g., learning, safety, connection, accomplishment).

Interests

Heart-to-heart connection, design & exploration of being-oriented (rather than doing-oriented) programming languages, ballroom dance, spirituality, computer graphics, language design, inner work, being in the moment, alternative relationship models, clarity with compassion.

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: "The Wisdom of Insecurity" by Alan Watts, "Loving What Is" by Byron Katie, "A New Earth" by Eckhart Toelle, "Nonviolent Communication; A Language of Life" by Marshall Rosenberg; "The Alphabet versus the Goddess" by Leonard Schlain; "The Story of B" and other books by Daniel Quinn; "The Little Minister", "Peter Pan" and many other books by James Barrie.

Music: jazz, especially vocal standards, new age, especially Kirtana.

Movies: "The Gods Must Be Crazy", "The Big Lebowski", "Sleepless in Seattle", "The Music Man", "Cat Ballou", "Gross Pointe Blank", "Groundhog Day", "My Dinner with Andre".

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent the last 3 1/2 weeks of my dad's life with him and was present and connected with him during his transition (March 2006). We talked honestly about what was going on, and I helped him and my mother (married 58 1/2 years) to have some important conversations that I think helped them both be ready. It was a deeply rewarding experience for me.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to share Compassionate ("Nonviolent") Communication during my travels. Could take the form of teaching introductions (45 minutes to three hours), full-day workshops, multi-day in-depth classes, facilitating conflict resolution through mediation, or working with individuals or couples in learning to nurture heart connection and clarity.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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