Staying connected to the bigger picture is how we keep our integrity — It finally hit me. Running a connection blog and facilitating relational events without acknowledging what’s happening in Palestine is lacking integrity. In this post, I want to name the disconnection I often feel as a connection worker. I also see this as a trend in my network of facilitators, community…

Yes, this holiday has colonial history. Know it — but don’t let it stop you from celebrating gratitude — Why should you read another post about the importance of gratitude on Thanksgiving? One reason is to acknowledge the complex history behind this holiday — all the while, remaining focused on gratitude. Thanksgiving has difficult origins. Along with reminding us to feel thankful for what the year brought and providing…

It’s teaching me how to explore pleasure while having respect for my triggers — Bachata is one hell of a sensual experience. Because of this, it’s helping me realize my triggers, behaviour patterns, and beliefs around intimacy and sex. I started going to classes and parties a little over a month ago. The first few evenings were just pure joy. I already knew I…

Focus on them now to have a meaningful career in a few years — When you’re fresh out of college, you naturally wonder what to do with the rest of your life. Seven years ago, that’s where I was at. I dipped my toe in hospitality, worked for a travel agency, supported people with disabilities, and tried a few other jobs. Contrary to many…

If conversation was a game, what moves would benefit all players? — Do you know the kind of board games where players don’t compete with each other? Instead, they need to collaborate to get the most points. Conversations are just like those games. There are two or more players. Everyone makes moves, and other people respond with theirs. …

Lessons for building strong relationships that support the world — David Brooks is one of the most well-known American writers and commentators of public life. His new book How to Know a Person offers a perspective on human connection that’s tailored to our times. In the past decades, relationships have become difficult. Exceptional political division is coupled by declining social…

For a mammal, helping others means taking care of oneself — As mammals, we’re wired for kindness and collaboration. But we don’t often think of ourselves as animals, do we? We tend to believe that separating ourselves from our primal instincts was how we became “civilized.” …

Providing structure is a gift — one that you can offer even if you’re not a master facilitator. — You don’t need a lot of facilitation skills to lead a good meeting. If you don’t have the skills, what you can fall back on is… structure. For meetings geared towards a goal — making a decision, planning an event, generating ideas, bonding as a group — a pre-decided structure…

The mechanics of psychic numbing, explained — “One death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” This saying captures how many of us feel about human tragedies. When it’s about one specific person going hungry, empathy is sparked. You want to help. You connect to their story, feelings, and make an effort to try and…