It's National Poetry Month.

It's also The National Week of Conversation.

Seems like a good time to see...
what
inspiration
we can draw
from our poets
to inform
our conversations.

Here's a poem from Alberto Ríos...

How much are we able to give?
How does giving change us?
Can we create something greater from the difference?

Let's try.

While you're talking,
here is a poetic blessing 
​from Lucille Clifton...

Can we travel together in our conversation
beyond the face of fear?
Can we listen to one another
and sail through this to that  
to find common ground?

​Let's try.

We'll close this week with one more poem
that you may remember from years ago.  
​
A favorite from Shel Silverstein...

Can we stop tugging
and find a way
to win together?

Let's try.

Tomorrow is National Poem in Your Pocket Day.
We're encouraged by the Academy of American Poets to carry a favorite poem around for the day and share it with others.

Great Idea!

Consider sharing one of these poems...
​or one of your favorites...
​with a friend to start a conversation.

Perhaps a little shared poetry can bring us together...

and inspire us to find those purple points.

-The Purple Living Room Team

Does this resonate with you at all?

Check yourself when you are talking to others today...

How much of the time are you focused completely on what the other person is saying?

How much of your attention is focused on planning what you want to say when it is your turn to speak?

We tend to spend more time formulating our replies than we do trying to honestly understand what the other person is saying.

The National Week of Conversation starts in just two days!

Are you you ready to talk?

​More importantly, are you ready to listen?

What are your intentions?

Let’s set our focus on listening to understand...

Let us know what you learn!

​-The Purple Living Room Team

Where does change begin?  

At the dinner table.
In the backyard.
In the kitchen.
At the coffee shop.
At the playground.
With friends and neighbors.
In our local communities.

Are you ready to be part of the change?

There's an inspiring movement coming up soon...  

The National Week of Conversation
​
It's sponsored by the Bridge Alliance Education Fund
and takes place April 20th-28th, 2018.

Have you heard of Bridge Alliance?

It's an organization that is committed to 
revitalizing democratic practice in America.

The National Week of Conversation
is all about listening to one another
in an attempt to heal our nation.

​Check out their website!

Consider hosting a Purple Living Room Party that week.

Or find another way to join a conversation...

any conversation...

and get ready to #listenfirst!

-The Purple Living Room Team
​

Last week, we were inspired by our nation's teenagers...  

This week, we're inspired by our nation's preschoolers!

Many children across the country searched for eggs last weekend.

Colorful treats were hidden indoors, outdoors, all around...
and little ones grabbed their baskets and
tried to find as many as possible.  

Have you ever watched a small child on a treasure hunt?  

There is a look of intensity that combines belief and focus...

Belief: "There is more treasure out there!"

Focus: "Nothing will stop me--I will find it!"

Do you remember that feeling from when you were young?
You would stop at nothing to find the egg, the gold, the treasure.
Nothing would get between you and the thrill of discovery.

Time goes by...
and as we grow older,
​all we discover is apathy. 
We cease to believe in the possibility of treasure. 
We shrug our shoulders and let someone else do the work.

Let's try to recapture a bit of that childhood enthusiasm...

Belief: "There are many Purple Points out there!!!"

Focus: "We will keep talking and we find them!!!"

The purple points are out there, friends...
let's grab our baskets and start searching!

-The Purple Living Room Team