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The Needs’ Year Summit
Summary In this blog post, I write about the background of “The Needs’ Year” and all that has taken place in this project during the year. This final blog post is a summary of my insights and learnings throughout the year as well as a celebration of meeting all...
Predictability – The Needs’ Year (Week 52)
I heard sirens in the distance. Then I saw the square and blue lights from a couple of police cars. I paid no direct attention to it and kept on running. When I came back to the apartment, my partner had just returned home from a dinner in central Stockholm with her...
This changes everything – Artificial Intelligence explains Nonviolent Communication
The other day I was listening to the science news on Swedish radio. They talked about a new AI tool online - ChatGPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer). It is a machine learning program developed by the research organization OpenAI. The tool generates its own text...
Authenticity – The Needs’ Year (Week 51)
I was at a concert and on the other side of the venue, I saw my ex-girlfriend's new partner for the first time. I was still gloomy after we had broken up. After a while, he came up to me and introduced himself: "Hello, I'm Carl. I just thought I'd say hi.” My whole...
Intimacy – The Needs’ Year (Week 50)
I always start my blog posts in the Needs' Year with a personal story. Partly it’s because I want to examine how a specific need manifests itself in my life. Another purpose has been to try to capture the reader's attention. A personal story often conveys something...
Closeness – The Needs’ Year (Week 49)
“I wish I had no feelings!” I was lying at home in my teenage room thinking about the girl I was in love with. My feelings of love were unanswered and I felt like the loneliest boy in the world. If I didn't have any feelings, I wouldn't have to suffer as I did. At...
Order – The Needs’ Year (Week 48)
“I'm sorry, but I need to cancel our meeting. I can't find my ID.” I was calling a friend. We had decided to meet, going to the bank to finally sign the last documents to be able to open a bank account in the newly formed Swedish NVC association. I needed both my ID...
Shared Reality – The Needs’ Year (Week 47)
“NASA has said that if all the ice in Antarctica melts, the oceans will rise by just two decimetres." My father looked at me encouragingly and waited for an answer. I asked (a bit weary) "Can you show me the source where NASA claims this?" For the next few hours, he...
Love – The Needs’ Year (Week 46)
I was in my early teens walking down the school corridor on one of the first days of ninth grade. When I reached my locker, I saw Anki and Hubbe sitting and kissing. They started giggling when they saw me. I unlocked my locker, hung up my jacket and took the school...
Play – The Needs’ Year (Week 45)
The kids are hanging on to me in bunches. A horde of 20 small seven-year-olds are trying to drag me to the ground. I stagger forward and can barely stand up. I plead in a complaining voice: “Please stop! I cannot take it anymore!" This only triggers them to try even...
Beauty – The Needs’ Year (Week 44)
I stood speechless in awe for several minutes. The impressions flooded my senses and I enjoyed the splendour of the bright colours. Like so many times before, it was like I couldn't get enough. Right then, all thoughts disappeared from my head. I was enjoying myself...
Movement – The Needs’ Year (Week 43)
I have just increased the weight of the barbell to over 100 kilos. I notice that the body is in tension for the coming weight. Right now, the thought of doing four repetitions of the deadlift doesn't feel particularly joyful. Knowing that I wouldn't be doing these...