Communication

It is so important to communicate about issues that we care about.

It's easier not to talk to people for a variety of reasons. We are tired. We are afraid of other peoples' reactions if we think they will disagree with what we want. We don't know how how to say what we're thinking or feeling.

It's important on the Joberts Team that we start with an agreement that it's okay to talk about anything. We have to remember to be respectful. We have to believe that we don't have to be afraid of getting emotionally hurt when we share things - that no one will make fun of us for saying something, or that we won't lose friends because we are honest. As long as we learn to share our thoughts and feelings with kind voice and kind words, we cannot fail.

We we share our thoughts and feelings, we get them out. We free these emotions so they don't bother us on the inside. We feel liberated and light. We are happy. We  are out true selves.

Yesterday, during the Disability Awareness workshop, we were able to discuss many sensitive issues. I was very proud of how our community of 56 was patient and kind as we learned about disabilities that we can both see and cannot see. I was impressed how people shared things they never had shared before in a spirit of understanding, compassion, empathy, and love.