The need to communicate is part of our human nature … to send messages, to be heard. Remember those poor soldiers of centuries ago who ran forever to deliver edicts from kings … and keel over dead from exhaustion once they uttered the fatal words … most likely orders like, “Send more money so I can redecorate the palace.”
We think communication is easier than ever before in humankind’s history, thanks to technology. Yes, it is … BUT our communication skills need to be constantly fine-tuned as we evolve in our personal and worldview. We allegedly mature as we age … Remember, I said, allegedly …
We think that if we’re louder, we’ll be heard. Being loud these days is almost counter-productive because our listening skills are bombarded. We’re overloaded with messages because so many businesses and politicians and … yeah, nut cases, are vying for the limited bandwidth each of us possesses. Your home may have plenty of bandwidth to streamline anything in the universe, but our human brains have limits … that we can’t see … but that affect the world when they implode within us or explode outside of us … hurting ourselves and others.
It’s that inner child that still craves attention. Louder should bring more attention, right? That’s why we see an avalanche of narcissists invading our airwaves and our very lives. Many are being held captive by them, but we need to turn the sound off, because our fragile human brains deserve far better treatment. I say all this to remind us to step back from the fray and calm our sensibilities and senses.
And communicate the messages that are necessary for life … our life and the lives of those we love. Speak softly. Write small notes (or texts) generously. Go back to the basics of human communication with a new appreciation for kindness. No politics. No weather. Hmm, whatever will you say …
Be heard with quiet and sincerity. Yesterday I gave my husband Roger several of these little handwritten notes, deposited on his desk without a word, asking for some assistance whenever HE had time. I had been interrupting him too much in recent weeks with similar requests. He didn’t say anything negative, but I realized I was disrupting his space and time with non-urgent matters.
Now, if I set off the smoke alarm from cooking, I would have been a little more demanding …
A beautiful thing happened. While I worked on my missions at one end of the house, the messages made him laugh, and he fulfilled my mini honey-do lists with enthusiasm and much sooner that I had expected. It was delivered in bite-sized portions to lighten the load and keep ME moving forward at the same time.
What do you want to communicate to someone today? What do you want to ask? What assistance do you need? What validation do you need to get through today … the little things that keep us all moving forward individually and collectively? What will you offer to give of yourself? What will prompt you to engage with the people you share a home with … quietly and effectively and with love? The air is so much easier to breathe …
Here’s what I left on Roger’s chair this morning. Now, don’t tell him! I want him to be surprised and entertained … and know he is loved and appreciated for these gifts and so much more. Now I wonder what messages will now start showing up in my space … uh oh …
Hey, drop me a line at [email protected] or leave a comment below. I’d love to speak to your group, organization or company about working our way through the pain and challenges of everyday life. You want straight talk? You got me!
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