Jumana and I met on the green grass of America it was a family potluck she was
America it was a family potluck she was
America it was a family potluck she was holding her baby boy I was holding mine
holding her baby boy I was holding mine
holding her baby boy I was holding mine she had the kind of dark beauty that I
she had the kind of dark beauty that I
she had the kind of dark beauty that I recognized from home so I walked up to
recognized from home so I walked up to
recognized from home so I walked up to her what’s his name
her what’s his name
her what’s his name Tamara and yours he died were you from
Tamara and yours he died were you from
Tamara and yours he died were you from Jerusalem near amel actually I’m from
Jerusalem near amel actually I’m from
Jerusalem near amel actually I’m from Jerusalem – her American has been
Jerusalem – her American has been
Jerusalem – her American has been stepped right in my wife is a
stepped right in my wife is a
stepped right in my wife is a Palestinian you know as if I didn’t know
Palestinian you know as if I didn’t know
Palestinian you know as if I didn’t know but I didn’t know if she’d want to talk
but I didn’t know if she’d want to talk
but I didn’t know if she’d want to talk to me you see I grew up in Jerusalem a
to me you see I grew up in Jerusalem a
to me you see I grew up in Jerusalem a proud Israeli Jew when my grandmother
proud Israeli Jew when my grandmother
proud Israeli Jew when my grandmother would hear the word Arab she’d say who
would hear the word Arab she’d say who
would hear the word Arab she’d say who he must mum may their name be erased her
he must mum may their name be erased her
he must mum may their name be erased her son my uncle was killed in the 1948 war
son my uncle was killed in the 1948 war
son my uncle was killed in the 1948 war for our independence I come from a place
for our independence I come from a place
for our independence I come from a place where the news is on the radio every
where the news is on the radio every
where the news is on the radio every hour and on the buses the drivers turned
hour and on the buses the drivers turned
hour and on the buses the drivers turned the volume up and all conversations
the volume up and all conversations
the volume up and all conversations stopped there’s always something bombs
stopped there’s always something bombs
stopped there’s always something bombs in the marketplace buses blowing up Wars
in the marketplace buses blowing up Wars
in the marketplace buses blowing up Wars but jimana and I watched our children
but jimana and I watched our children
but jimana and I watched our children grow up together on that green grass
grow up together on that green grass
grow up together on that green grass without the fear no one put it in words
without the fear no one put it in words
without the fear no one put it in words but each of us knew back home my son
but each of us knew back home my son
but each of us knew back home my son would grow up to go to the army and
would grow up to go to the army and
would grow up to go to the army and check IDs at roadblocks her son would
check IDs at roadblocks her son would
check IDs at roadblocks her son would grow up to arrive at the checkpoint and
grow up to arrive at the checkpoint and
grow up to arrive at the checkpoint and throw stones at the oppressor over the
throw stones at the oppressor over the
throw stones at the oppressor over the years jimana and I did start to talk but
years jimana and I did start to talk but
years jimana and I did start to talk but it was mostly mom stuff until one day as
it was mostly mom stuff until one day as
it was mostly mom stuff until one day as a storyteller I was creating a story
a storyteller I was creating a story
a storyteller I was creating a story from my memories of 3rd grade in the
from my memories of 3rd grade in the
from my memories of 3rd grade in the 1967 war when I realized I’ve known this
1967 war when I realized I’ve known this
1967 war when I realized I’ve known this woman now for seven years we both grew
woman now for seven years we both grew
woman now for seven years we both grew up in the same city not even five miles
up in the same city not even five miles
up in the same city not even five miles apart and I never heard
apart and I never heard
apart and I never heard what that war was like for her did she
what that war was like for her did she
what that war was like for her did she sleep with all the neighbors in the
sleep with all the neighbors in the
sleep with all the neighbors in the furnace room like I did did Palestinians
furnace room like I did did Palestinians
furnace room like I did did Palestinians even have a bomb shelter so I called her
even have a bomb shelter so I called her
even have a bomb shelter so I called her and she said the only memory I have for
and she said the only memory I have for
and she said the only memory I have for my childhood is fear
my childhood is fear
my childhood is fear I grew up under occupation I never met
I grew up under occupation I never met
I grew up under occupation I never met an Israeli who wasn’t a soldier or a
an Israeli who wasn’t a soldier or a
an Israeli who wasn’t a soldier or a settler until I met you she said I don’t
settler until I met you she said I don’t
settler until I met you she said I don’t have a story to tell
have a story to tell
have a story to tell look I’m not a typical case our house
look I’m not a typical case our house
look I’m not a typical case our house wasn’t demolished our trees were not
wasn’t demolished our trees were not
wasn’t demolished our trees were not approved and listen my people are being
approved and listen my people are being
approved and listen my people are being killed every single day and my life is
killed every single day and my life is
killed every single day and my life is sheltered I’m here I’m not a typical
sheltered I’m here I’m not a typical
sheltered I’m here I’m not a typical case why would you want to hear my story
case why would you want to hear my story
case why would you want to hear my story I said I never had a friend who was a
I said I never had a friend who was a
I said I never had a friend who was a Palestinian before I just want to know
Palestinian before I just want to know
Palestinian before I just want to know how it is so she said all right I don’t
how it is so she said all right I don’t
how it is so she said all right I don’t have a story but I’ll answer questions
have a story but I’ll answer questions
have a story but I’ll answer questions and so I asked questions about her
and so I asked questions about her
and so I asked questions about her school and her home and her family in
school and her home and her family in
school and her home and her family in the neighborhood and the stories came
the neighborhood and the stories came
the neighborhood and the stories came pouring out and for the first time in my
pouring out and for the first time in my
pouring out and for the first time in my life I heard what it actually feels like
life I heard what it actually feels like
life I heard what it actually feels like to be a Palestinian growing up under
to be a Palestinian growing up under
to be a Palestinian growing up under Israeli occupation she told me that when
Israeli occupation she told me that when
Israeli occupation she told me that when she was 10 she saw a 14 year old boy
she was 10 she saw a 14 year old boy
she was 10 she saw a 14 year old boy being beaten by soldiers and that was
being beaten by soldiers and that was
being beaten by soldiers and that was the first time in her life she
the first time in her life she
the first time in her life she understood the meaning of the word hate
understood the meaning of the word hate
understood the meaning of the word hate hearing this felt like someone just
hearing this felt like someone just
hearing this felt like someone just kicked me in the gut because those
kicked me in the gut because those
kicked me in the gut because those soldiers that terrified and haunted her
soldiers that terrified and haunted her
soldiers that terrified and haunted her entire childhood or our symbol of
entire childhood or our symbol of
entire childhood or our symbol of security our heroes everyone that I knew
security our heroes everyone that I knew
security our heroes everyone that I knew that turned 18 and went to the army
that turned 18 and went to the army
that turned 18 and went to the army including my brother my people were the
including my brother my people were the
including my brother my people were the vehm it was painful but I kept listening
vehm it was painful but I kept listening
vehm it was painful but I kept listening because she was telling me her story and
because she was telling me her story and
because she was telling me her story and eventually we began to talk about
eventually we began to talk about
eventually we began to talk about history and I said something that was
history and I said something that was
history and I said something that was the truth a historical fact and she said
the truth a historical fact and she said
the truth a historical fact and she said that’s not
that’s not
that’s not that Zionist propaganda and then she
that Zionist propaganda and then she
that Zionist propaganda and then she said something that was the truth a
said something that was the truth a
said something that was the truth a historical fact and I said that’s not
historical fact and I said that’s not
historical fact and I said that’s not the way it was that’s Arab propaganda we
the way it was that’s Arab propaganda we
the way it was that’s Arab propaganda we found ourselves arguing then she said
found ourselves arguing then she said
found ourselves arguing then she said look at us we’re becoming defensive we
look at us we’re becoming defensive we
look at us we’re becoming defensive we laughed I picked up the baby so she
laughed I picked up the baby so she
laughed I picked up the baby so she could make a soft-boiled egg for the
could make a soft-boiled egg for the
could make a soft-boiled egg for the other kids and we continued to talk and
other kids and we continued to talk and
other kids and we continued to talk and this experience our ability to continue
this experience our ability to continue
this experience our ability to continue to talk and hold on to our compassion in
to talk and hold on to our compassion in
to talk and hold on to our compassion in spite of differences it was so powerful
spite of differences it was so powerful
spite of differences it was so powerful it propelled me to create a live
it propelled me to create a live
it propelled me to create a live performance called
performance called
performance called and land twice promised where I tell our
and land twice promised where I tell our
and land twice promised where I tell our personal stories and the stories of our
personal stories and the stories of our
personal stories and the stories of our mothers that echo those contradicting
mothers that echo those contradicting
mothers that echo those contradicting national narratives of our people and
national narratives of our people and
national narratives of our people and soon after I began touring this show I
soon after I began touring this show I
soon after I began touring this show I realized that what I learned from this
realized that what I learned from this
realized that what I learned from this process could be useful for others and
process could be useful for others and
process could be useful for others and that my story is not just about two
that my story is not just about two
that my story is not just about two mothers meeting on the playground it’s
mothers meeting on the playground it’s
mothers meeting on the playground it’s not even about Israelis and Palestinians
not even about Israelis and Palestinians
not even about Israelis and Palestinians it’s about the power of storytelling and
it’s about the power of storytelling and
it’s about the power of storytelling and the power of listening to the story of
the power of listening to the story of
the power of listening to the story of the other even and especially when
the other even and especially when
the other even and especially when they’re different and their story
they’re different and their story
they’re different and their story difficult so I became interested in
difficult so I became interested in
difficult so I became interested in using storytelling as a peace building
using storytelling as a peace building
using storytelling as a peace building tool with a definition of peace expanded
tool with a definition of peace expanded
tool with a definition of peace expanded to include issues of diversity and
to include issues of diversity and
to include issues of diversity and bridging differences in our workplace
bridging differences in our workplace
bridging differences in our workplace and communities so what is it about
and communities so what is it about
and communities so what is it about storytelling that makes it useful to
storytelling that makes it useful to
storytelling that makes it useful to connect the cross differences we know
connect the cross differences we know
connect the cross differences we know that diverse voices and diverse
that diverse voices and diverse
that diverse voices and diverse abilities be it in the workplace or
abilities be it in the workplace or
abilities be it in the workplace or community contribute to greater
community contribute to greater
community contribute to greater performance and greater resilience but
performance and greater resilience but
performance and greater resilience but we all know that it is not easy to work
we all know that it is not easy to work
we all know that it is not easy to work or get along with those who are
or get along with those who are
or get along with those who are different who do not share our
different who do not share our
different who do not share our preferences and values it’s difficult
preferences and values it’s difficult
preferences and values it’s difficult because our brain is wired our brain is
because our brain is wired our brain is
because our brain is wired our brain is wired to keep us safe we have a
wired to keep us safe we have a
wired to keep us safe we have a biological inclination to seek belonging
biological inclination to seek belonging
biological inclination to seek belonging and bond with those who are most from
and bond with those who are most from
and bond with those who are most from failure the way a person looks speaks
failure the way a person looks speaks
failure the way a person looks speaks and even smells unconsciously alerts us
and even smells unconsciously alerts us
and even smells unconsciously alerts us to whether or not they are from our
to whether or not they are from our
to whether or not they are from our tribe and therefore safe and the more
tribe and therefore safe and the more
tribe and therefore safe and the more different someone seems the less real
different someone seems the less real
different someone seems the less real they become and the easier it is to
they become and the easier it is to
they become and the easier it is to label them and shut them out and because
label them and shut them out and because
label them and shut them out and because our brain is wired to keep us safe
our brain is wired to keep us safe
our brain is wired to keep us safe we are also attached to our cognitive
we are also attached to our cognitive
we are also attached to our cognitive constructs of the world our opinions our
constructs of the world our opinions our
constructs of the world our opinions our worldview it’s part of how we navigate
worldview it’s part of how we navigate
worldview it’s part of how we navigate life it’s part of our identity so in my
life it’s part of our identity so in my
life it’s part of our identity so in my way of looking at things is challenged
way of looking at things is challenged
way of looking at things is challenged by someone else’s it can feel
by someone else’s it can feel
by someone else’s it can feel threatening we either argue or we shut
threatening we either argue or we shut
threatening we either argue or we shut down and don’t engage but imagine if we
down and don’t engage but imagine if we
down and don’t engage but imagine if we could look at our differences not as a
could look at our differences not as a
could look at our differences not as a threat but as an opportunity what if we
threat but as an opportunity what if we
threat but as an opportunity what if we could bring people to listen not to
could bring people to listen not to
could bring people to listen not to concepts and opinions but to experience
concepts and opinions but to experience
concepts and opinions but to experience you see story is based in experience and
you see story is based in experience and
you see story is based in experience and when we open up to the experience the
when we open up to the experience the
when we open up to the experience the story of another human things begin to
story of another human things begin to
story of another human things begin to shift the first thing that shifts is the
shift the first thing that shifts is the
shift the first thing that shifts is the emotional connection in a very short
emotional connection in a very short
emotional connection in a very short time there’s a sense of trust and
time there’s a sense of trust and
time there’s a sense of trust and intimacy now we’re not talking becoming
intimacy now we’re not talking becoming
intimacy now we’re not talking becoming best friends forever but intimacy in the
best friends forever but intimacy in the
best friends forever but intimacy in the sense that you you know more about the
sense that you you know more about the
sense that you you know more about the person than the sum of the words
person than the sum of the words
person than the sum of the words exchanged between you I remember an
exchanged between you I remember an
exchanged between you I remember an interfaith workshop where a Jewish woman
interfaith workshop where a Jewish woman
interfaith workshop where a Jewish woman was partnered with a Muslim man and I
was partnered with a Muslim man and I
was partnered with a Muslim man and I watched at first her arms were like
watched at first her arms were like
watched at first her arms were like armor and her face a harsh resolve and
armor and her face a harsh resolve and
armor and her face a harsh resolve and as she listened her arms came down her
as she listened her arms came down her
as she listened her arms came down her face softened and then she turned to us
face softened and then she turned to us
face softened and then she turned to us and she said I can’t believe that was a
and she said I can’t believe that was a
and she said I can’t believe that was a three minute story I feel like I know
three minute story I feel like I know
three minute story I feel like I know this person and it’s the first time in
this person and it’s the first time in
this person and it’s the first time in my life I sat and talked face to face
my life I sat and talked face to face
my life I sat and talked face to face with an Islamic person it changed my
with an Islamic person it changed my
with an Islamic person it changed my life so this sense of into
life so this sense of into
life so this sense of into see and Trust is created not just by the
see and Trust is created not just by the
see and Trust is created not just by the content of the story at the process of
content of the story at the process of
content of the story at the process of being together in the same space and
being together in the same space and
being together in the same space and time sharing stories and this this
time sharing stories and this this
time sharing stories and this this process is the core attribute that sets
process is the core attribute that sets
process is the core attribute that sets storytelling apart because you see it’s
storytelling apart because you see it’s
storytelling apart because you see it’s not just about the story it’s about us
not just about the story it’s about us
not just about the story it’s about us that human connection that happens when
that human connection that happens when
that human connection that happens when we are in the same space face-to-face
we are in the same space face-to-face
we are in the same space face-to-face listening and being listened to is what
listening and being listened to is what
listening and being listened to is what creates transformation the second thing
creates transformation the second thing
creates transformation the second thing that happens when we open up to the
that happens when we open up to the
that happens when we open up to the experience of another human is the shift
experience of another human is the shift
experience of another human is the shift in the cognitive connection when we
in the cognitive connection when we
in the cognitive connection when we argue we present our opinions and we
argue we present our opinions and we
argue we present our opinions and we naturally become defensive because
naturally become defensive because
naturally become defensive because accepting your point of view means I
accepting your point of view means I
accepting your point of view means I have to change or invalidate mine but
have to change or invalidate mine but
have to change or invalidate mine but when we listen to a story we use the
when we listen to a story we use the
when we listen to a story we use the imagination I get to temporarily suspend
imagination I get to temporarily suspend
imagination I get to temporarily suspend disbelief and look at the world in a way
disbelief and look at the world in a way
disbelief and look at the world in a way that is not mine there’s no need to
that is not mine there’s no need to
that is not mine there’s no need to become defensive because imagining or
become defensive because imagining or
become defensive because imagining or understanding your point of view doesn’t
understanding your point of view doesn’t
understanding your point of view doesn’t mean I have to adopt it or invalidate my
mean I have to adopt it or invalidate my
mean I have to adopt it or invalidate my own there was a time in another workshop
own there was a time in another workshop
own there was a time in another workshop that I was very nervous that a
that I was very nervous that a
that I was very nervous that a participant was gonna get up and walk
participant was gonna get up and walk
participant was gonna get up and walk away she was a deeply religious woman
away she was a deeply religious woman
away she was a deeply religious woman with fundamental views and her partner
with fundamental views and her partner
with fundamental views and her partner was sharing a story about getting an
was sharing a story about getting an
was sharing a story about getting an abortion but she didn’t walk away and at
abortion but she didn’t walk away and at
abortion but she didn’t walk away and at the end this is what she said that was
the end this is what she said that was
the end this is what she said that was the first time in my life I was able to
the first time in my life I was able to
the first time in my life I was able to consider something that completely
consider something that completely
consider something that completely contradicted everything I believed in
contradicted everything I believed in
contradicted everything I believed in because she was telling me her story I
because she was telling me her story I
because she was telling me her story I found myself being able to accept that
found myself being able to accept that
found myself being able to accept that an abortion could be a valid option even
an abortion could be a valid option even
an abortion could be a valid option even essential for someone else so listening
essential for someone else so listening
essential for someone else so listening to a story allows us to suspend judgment
to a story allows us to suspend judgment
to a story allows us to suspend judgment and open up to different points of view
and open up to different points of view
and open up to different points of view but it’s not just the listening that
but it’s not just the listening that
but it’s not just the listening that creates transformation a fascinating
creates transformation a fascinating
creates transformation a fascinating scientific study in the Journal of
scientific study in the Journal of
scientific study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows
Personality and Social Psychology shows
Personality and Social Psychology shows that self affirmation reduces
that self affirmation reduces
that self affirmation reduces ideological closed mindedness apparently
ideological closed mindedness apparently
ideological closed mindedness apparently we do our best when our self integrity
we do our best when our self integrity
we do our best when our self integrity our need to see ourselves as good is
our need to see ourselves as good is
our need to see ourselves as good is affirmed when individuals first recall
affirmed when individuals first recall
affirmed when individuals first recall the personal strengths or a treasured
the personal strengths or a treasured
the personal strengths or a treasured memory large differences and rigid
memory large differences and rigid
memory large differences and rigid ideological views were transcended the
ideological views were transcended the
ideological views were transcended the study shows that sharing a story
study shows that sharing a story
study shows that sharing a story prompted respect and openness to
prompted respect and openness to
prompted respect and openness to information that otherwise wouldn’t be
information that otherwise wouldn’t be
information that otherwise wouldn’t be considered my Palestinian friend shared
considered my Palestinian friend shared
considered my Palestinian friend shared the story of finding courage in fifth
the story of finding courage in fifth
the story of finding courage in fifth grade running through the alleys of the
grade running through the alleys of the
grade running through the alleys of the old city to get her little sister to
old city to get her little sister to
old city to get her little sister to safety during a demonstration I shared
safety during a demonstration I shared
safety during a demonstration I shared the story of my mother
the story of my mother
the story of my mother and the pride of my family in the uncle
and the pride of my family in the uncle
and the pride of my family in the uncle who sacrificed his life for our
who sacrificed his life for our
who sacrificed his life for our independence because we shared these
independence because we shared these
independence because we shared these memories we affirmed our sense of self
memories we affirmed our sense of self
memories we affirmed our sense of self integrity and it became possible to hear
integrity and it became possible to hear
integrity and it became possible to hear the historical narrative of the other so
the historical narrative of the other so
the historical narrative of the other so arguing contributes to fortifying
arguing contributes to fortifying
arguing contributes to fortifying opinions and polarizing points of view
opinions and polarizing points of view
opinions and polarizing points of view but storytelling offers a space for
but storytelling offers a space for
but storytelling offers a space for sharing self affirming treasured
sharing self affirming treasured
sharing self affirming treasured memories that reduce inflexibility and
memories that reduce inflexibility and
memories that reduce inflexibility and ideological closed mindedness now in my
ideological closed mindedness now in my
ideological closed mindedness now in my work I’ve been inspired by the great
work I’ve been inspired by the great
work I’ve been inspired by the great religion scholar Karen Armstrong to take
religion scholar Karen Armstrong to take
religion scholar Karen Armstrong to take this emotional and cognitive shift
this emotional and cognitive shift
this emotional and cognitive shift another step Armstrong talks about the
another step Armstrong talks about the
another step Armstrong talks about the centrality of compassion to all the
centrality of compassion to all the
centrality of compassion to all the world’s religions compassion she says
world’s religions compassion she says
world’s religions compassion she says doesn’t mean pity feeling sorry for
doesn’t mean pity feeling sorry for
doesn’t mean pity feeling sorry for another compassion means putting
another compassion means putting
another compassion means putting yourself in the position of another
yourself in the position of another
yourself in the position of another person learning about their pain so I
person learning about their pain so I
person learning about their pain so I made a choice
made a choice
made a choice not just to listen to my friends stories
not just to listen to my friends stories
not just to listen to my friends stories but to publicly tell her stories and the
but to publicly tell her stories and the
but to publicly tell her stories and the stories of our mothers from their points
stories of our mothers from their points
stories of our mothers from their points of view for that I had to put myself in
of view for that I had to put myself in
of view for that I had to put myself in the position of the other tell the story
the position of the other tell the story
the position of the other tell the story as if it was me who felt that hate for
as if it was me who felt that hate for
as if it was me who felt that hate for Israeli soldiers as if it was me who lay
Israeli soldiers as if it was me who lay
Israeli soldiers as if it was me who lay on top of three babies during a night of
on top of three babies during a night of
on top of three babies during a night of non-stop bombing like her mother in 1967
non-stop bombing like her mother in 1967
non-stop bombing like her mother in 1967 as if it was me who lost a beloved
as if it was me who lost a beloved
as if it was me who lost a beloved brother like my mother in 1948 and
brother like my mother in 1948 and
brother like my mother in 1948 and telling the stories in this way gave me
telling the stories in this way gave me
telling the stories in this way gave me a deeper experience of compassion so in
a deeper experience of compassion so in
a deeper experience of compassion so in my workshops participants learn not just
my workshops participants learn not just
my workshops participants learn not just to listen to the story of that of the
to listen to the story of that of the
to listen to the story of that of the other but to tell the story of another
other but to tell the story of another
other but to tell the story of another person from that person’s point of view
using storytelling as a peace building
using storytelling as a peace building tool is not about changing opinions it’s
tool is not about changing opinions it’s
tool is not about changing opinions it’s about changing our response to
about changing our response to
about changing our response to differences and learning how to accept
differences and learning how to accept
differences and learning how to accept multiple points of view simultaneously
multiple points of view simultaneously
multiple points of view simultaneously and live with paradox because you see
and live with paradox because you see
and live with paradox because you see living with complexity an understanding
living with complexity an understanding
living with complexity an understanding or accepting the paradoxes around us is
or accepting the paradoxes around us is
or accepting the paradoxes around us is the hardest thing for all of us we all
the hardest thing for all of us we all
the hardest thing for all of us we all want answers we want clear views we all
want answers we want clear views we all
want answers we want clear views we all need validation but as long as I insist
need validation but as long as I insist
need validation but as long as I insist on one answer
on one answer
on one answer only my story reflected in everything
only my story reflected in everything
only my story reflected in everything I’m not open to change the key to the
I’m not open to change the key to the
I’m not open to change the key to the future is understanding that reality is
future is understanding that reality is
future is understanding that reality is so complex that accepting paradox can
so complex that accepting paradox can
so complex that accepting paradox can have positive value when we make room
have positive value when we make room
have positive value when we make room for paradox we make room for change
for paradox we make room for change
for paradox we make room for change jimana and I listened to each other’s
jimana and I listened to each other’s
jimana and I listened to each other’s stories it allowed us to expand our mind
stories it allowed us to expand our mind
stories it allowed us to expand our mind and make room for paradox so we could
and make room for paradox so we could
and make room for paradox so we could hold a perception that was different and
hold a perception that was different and
hold a perception that was different and even
even
even threatening to our own it led us to
threatening to our own it led us to
threatening to our own it led us to insight and compassion but I don’t
insight and compassion but I don’t
insight and compassion but I don’t pretend that it’s easy many times when I
pretend that it’s easy many times when I
pretend that it’s easy many times when I listen to her and her version of truth
listen to her and her version of truth
listen to her and her version of truth was so different the temptation was huge
was so different the temptation was huge
was so different the temptation was huge to just label her oh those Palestinians
to just label her oh those Palestinians
to just label her oh those Palestinians and walk away and I had to make a choice
and walk away and I had to make a choice
and walk away and I had to make a choice do I stay safe in my familiar shelter of
do I stay safe in my familiar shelter of
do I stay safe in my familiar shelter of us versus them or do I stay present to
us versus them or do I stay present to
us versus them or do I stay present to this human story and allow myself the
this human story and allow myself the
this human story and allow myself the uneasy territory of paradox the choice
uneasy territory of paradox the choice
uneasy territory of paradox the choice to let go of our fears and trust stories
to let go of our fears and trust stories
to let go of our fears and trust stories is ours and I’d like to invite you to
is ours and I’d like to invite you to
is ours and I’d like to invite you to make that choice it isn’t an easy one
make that choice it isn’t an easy one
make that choice it isn’t an easy one but choose to listen and to tell seek
but choose to listen and to tell seek
but choose to listen and to tell seek out the other cultivate an attitude of
out the other cultivate an attitude of
out the other cultivate an attitude of curiosity and open heart and use
curiosity and open heart and use
curiosity and open heart and use storytelling to create bridges in our
storytelling to create bridges in our
storytelling to create bridges in our polarized communities and workplaces I
polarized communities and workplaces I
polarized communities and workplaces I invite you to choose to become
invite you to choose to become
invite you to choose to become ambassadors of peace
”
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