Community Ground Rules

One of the most sacred rituals a community can have is communicating with each other; it's a ritual of speaking and listening. These ground rules form the basis of most of our events. Usually we share these events before any public event, particularly those events where there will be a check-in.

Ground Rules:

• I-referencing – Please share your own experiences, using I-language. I find when I use I-references the language is more powerful for myself.
• Confidentiality – Share your experiences and respect the privacy of what is shared here. You can certainly talk to others about what you experienced in this group, but please don't share the experiences of others.
• Ritual of listening – Please listen actively and attentively, seek to avoid cross-talk. Cross-talk is interrupting the speaker, whispering to your neighbor, or offering advice to the speaker when it is not asked for.
• Self-care – get a drink, use the facilities, you don't need to raise your hand. Emotionally take care of self, ask for what you need, and respect that others will ask for what they need. I might need to cry after I share something impactful, and if you hug me and tell me it's ok, that shuts down my process instead of comforting me. And, if you need a hug, or a kleenex, please ask for it! Self care is about taking responsibility for your needs.