Our deepest human need is to be seen by other people — to really be seen and known by someone else. Brené Brown
This deep dive into personal clarity and cultural humility is, at it's core, a training in how to become settled enough in one's own mind and body to be able to drop in to the glorious experience of bearing witness to the beauty of another.
The first year I visited, I sat with a group of young girls who were in a long-term aftercare program with
Hope for Justice. I had a full slate of experiences to offer, so many things for us to do. Since I do not speak Khmer and they had only a little English, we always had a translator.
I quickly realized that while it gave us less time for my wellness song and dance, it gave us more time for human engagement, story by story. I would witness each girl telling her story in Khmer, and without the language cues of "meaning," I got to practice deep observation of the nature of her voice, body, energy and how the rest of the group was engaged with the story. Then, as the story was retold to me in English by the translator, she got to witness me receiving her story, receiving her.
This is one of the greatest gifts I have been given. It has helped me practice clear and empathic listening, where often the only meaningful thing to say at the end is "thank you."
When we say we want to meet you in the field of experience, this is what we mean. We are in the process of creating more ways for us to experience music, poetry and culture. We look so forward to the time when we get to experience something beautiful together.
In harmony and health,
Stacy Sims
Founder
