Dear friends,
Years ago, I took a walk in one of our regional parks with an old friend.
Though we didn't see one another often, we share a passion for learning and personal growth and have always been direct and honest with one another. After checking with me, she asked a pointed question.
"Sometimes, it feels like you're not really here—like you're half-listening. How aware are you, really?"
Her words stopped me.
I realized how much of the time I was thinking or planning instead of connecting with the person right in front of me. It was a humbling moment, and one I've returned to many times in the years since.
We can meditate for years and still be lost in our own thoughts and preoccupations when we're with others. We can know someone well—what makes them laugh, what they worry about, how their voice changes when something's wrong—and still miss so much. There's a whole human being beneath the words.
Presence isn't a technique, and it doesn't arise in life automatically just because we meditate. In each moment it takes genuine curiosity and a willingness to stay. That's one of the reasons why I love teaching communication—it's where practice gets real.
I warmly invite you to join me as we explore this together this fall at Spirit Rock in Wise Communication: Transforming the Roots of Relationships. When we learn to speak from the heart and listen for what lies beneath our words and actions, we can meet ourselves and one another with more steadiness and care.
Over six weeks, we'll practice through meditation, teaching, reflection, and interactive exercises. We'll bring the skills directly into the relationships and conversations that matter most: in our families, at work, in our communities, and in the wider world.
The course starts Thursday, October 15, and meets live online for six Thursdays, 4:00–5:30pm PT. All sessions are recorded, so you can catch up if you miss one.
I'd love to have you join me.
Warmly,
Oren
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