Homework, week 1: When I first came deeply into contact with community and a sharing circle, it changed my life without me realizing it. I was walled of, I was guarded, I thought about what I would say when it was my turn in the sharing circle. But slowly and surely I learned: Wow. No.. I can be in the moment here. In the now. I can just let out what wants to leave my mouth. I can just share my heart. I am safe here. I am accepted just the way I am. I realized: it's ok here. For everybody! To cry. To show emotions. To make breaks. To breathe. To take your time. To be honest. No one will interrupt me as long as I have the talking stick. No one will ask me anything. No one will put pressure on me. No one expects me to say anything in particular. It took a while until I realized the power in this. More and more courage came, to REALLY let out what was on my heart. Even uncomfortable things, topics, issues, pains,.. Whatever wanted to be said that day. (Mostly it wasn't long.) One day, I felt unease. It took a while, but then I realized why: Wow. There was no sharing circle, and my system had expected one that day. I got to know it with all its unbelievable power it had for me and my life: Just sharing my heart. Without being judged. Just being myself, showing myself. Without being excluded. Unconditional. Being heard. Being seen. Not being judged. Being part of a community. Being part of a circle. I cannot put a finger on it, I cannot grasp it properly. But it changed my life. I think those wounded inner parts in me I wasn't aware of often, they could relax. I would have never expected such a life-changing result from just some people forming on a community, a circle, sharing, and listening without interrupting. Giving us time. It was so profound. Like profoundly touching healing magic. I want to share it with all of you. I want everyone to feel safe in a group. To feel safe, to feel seen. I want to create a safe container. I want this group to be a safe haven for you. Words cannot describe how powerful this can be.