Daring to Talk

Yesterday I had the honor of facilitating a conversation on a very contentious topic at the State House in South Carolina. Read that again. I’ve read it three times. And have been living with that reality for a day or so now. It’s a big deal to me.

A few details: it was a group of teens of different faiths, opinions, birth places, and communities.

And you know what they REALLY wanted to do?

TALK

Reasonably. Calmly. They wanted to hear the opinions of their so-called ‘adversaries.’ They were tired of the demonizing, meanness and over-wroughtness of the adults around them. Of the online trolls and media hysteria. They wanted to have a real, down-to-earth, honest-to-God conversation. And I got to lead them.

We talked about fear and cognition, about how to listen, about asking questions that invite connection, about being curious and handling their own reactions. We talked about individual and community. About personal feelings and political agreement. About dropping into the body. And breath. There was also a balloon activity that I learned from Richard Sims

The outcome:

Many were surprised at how much they agreed. Many heard things they’d never considered before. Some got to express their own opinion for the first time in a space that was not going to blast, shame or ostracize them. They didn’t have to defend, debate or decide. They just….talked. “Refreshing” said one. Their take-aways as a group: keep calm, connect, love everyone, ask honest questions. They walked away more hopeful, more educated and more connected. How is this a bad thing?

This may well be the greatest thing I do. It is certainly one tied to my civic values, my spiritual values and my professional values. And that’s pretty great.

The fact that it is at this time, in this place; it’s the type of project that makes you say “I’m exactly where I need to be, doing exactly what I was designed to do.”

And they wanted my picture. So you know, that's a rave review.