What is the point of communication anyway?  Why did humans develop language as an ability?  It seems, to me, we're driven to communicate in some form or another.  And it's truly beautiful how our deliveries differ as much as our unique personalities.

If a blogging friend can forgive me, I am inspired to tell a story about communication that may trigger insight in others regarding this magical skill! 

When my daughter was quite young and begining to truly compose and write her own sentences I noticed she often reversed some of the letters, a common thing children do.  I wasn't overly concerned, nor did I think she had any learning disability, as she was only 4 or 5 at the time... 

I remember talking with her about the way she wrote her letters and asked her if she realized they were backwards.  Her reply was that the letters were backwards but that people would still know what letter it was and they would still recognize the word.  We then talked about why people try to communicate with each other and how it's as important for the speaker or writer to be clear, so that they are understood - as the listener is intent on listening to and receiving the information.

That little talk helped my daughter appreciate that she does play an active role in expressing herself, she easily "conformed" to the rules of handwriting 101 and now she is quite skillful in communication and has grown to a succesful and happy woman, wife and mother!

Now take that basic knowledge and more forward - communication is such a gift and such a wonderful tool!

Of course to a child the solution is simple enough. For we adults moving in this incedible moving tapestry we call life, where there are no "instant replays" communication becomes quite an issue in our lives, and clear communication has become more and more important to us all.

In fact, it is even more important for the person wishing to express an idea to be as eloquent and clear as they can, providing an opportunity for the receiver to comprehend. The trick to that sentence is "for the receiver"...if one truly wishes to get a point across to someone else it may need to be presented in terms that the receiver can appreciate, regardless of what one appreciates themselves.

Hm-m-m-m, the physics behind AM/FM  radio signal transmissions may be a good allegory here where the music is sent in streams or radio waves...and one "tunes into" first the particular stations one can hear, and of those, then only the stations one "chooses" to hear.

If you want to get your message to people listening to station A then don't spend energy sending waves through station B because no-one there "hears" what you have to say...  Either they are not ready, or they have some other focus, some other perspective from which they view things, or they just do not have any appreciation for it, or for that "flavour" of music for the radio listener.

Actually,  advertisers can teach us much too - they've invested billions of dollars in getting ideas across and compelling people to try their product or service or what have you... What is essential to their success?  One of the main factors is truly knowing their audience.  Knowing what music they listen to, what station they tune to, what basic beliefs they have and what they think is "cool" - even if "cool" changes with the wind...!

So...when attempting to get a concept or idea across it is beneficial and certainly expedient to take care one knows one's audience, how they think and what's important to them.

We cannot force our ideas or beliefs on one another but we can enjoy the music that our communications between each other create and that is just another beautiful aspect of this life we experience.

Let's add to that another subject and another perspective;

That leads me to thinking about "difficult" communication...we all face it from time to time.  Well, some of us may refuse to face it, but yet that too is a choice and I guess it also must be honoured.

I believe there is magic locked inside that "difficult" communication if we are only willing to see it and work with it.  The magical aspect is what takes place when one faces the "difficulty" and deals with it creatively. There's what can almost be explained as an alchemical process that takes place when we approach difficult situations and deal with them creatively, rather than "automatically" - in our usual programmed ways. Once we open to other possibilities, such as that this "difficult" situation may be something else entirely, we may learn, and almost immediately that there truly is no "difficult" situation at all. 

Magically the "tension" of that difficult moment can diffuse. 

Communication can then continue it's beautiful dance through the garden that is our lives with joy and grace.

Life is your dance! Live simply, live well and laugh, a lot!

until later, may all be well. Enjoy your adventures!