Tag Archives: communication

Why I Write

  1. β€œWe write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
    ―AnaΓ―s Nin

Kateryna Hilznitsova – Unsplash

Writing is a greedy obsession. We write because we HAVE to write. It’s a compulsion, a need to reach out, to connect, to communicate. We would write whether anyone read our words or not, but it feels empty and we lose our enthusiasm, our motivation.

Of all the things I left behind when we moved to Thailand, the thing I wanted to get back as soon as possible was my blog. I tried to write it using my phone, but it was really difficult for me. I’m still learning how to do things on the MAC (I was using Windows), but it’s such a relief to be able to include a picture or two now. I’m not back to full speed with my more ‘normal’ posts yet, but I’m getting there slowly.

For me, the reaching out, the communicating is the most important reason I write. I feel connected to the people who take the time to read my blog. Some have become long distance friends. I love sharing what is happening, how I feel about it, exciting things I’ve seen, new things I’ve learned, wonderfully talented people I’ve found on the net, and more.

Reading comments is an important part of my day. I want to know what you think. Sometimes I get spam or someone being mean for no good reason and I blow those off. More often, I hear that someone has related to something I’ve said, it made them feel, it reminded them of a similar thing in their lives. Sometimes I get treasured messages of support, or kudos because someone likes the way I have written something, or agrees with what I’ve said.

It’s greedy because ‘I’ wrote it, ‘I’ wanted to reach out, ‘I’ put it out there, and ‘I’m’ getting to read any feedback. Me, me, me. BUT – in that greediness, I HOPE I’m providing a real person’s outlook on things, honest appreciation for other’s work, a bit of entertainment or a smile or two.

The blog is good because you can receive emails each time I write, or you can simply come to the site when you’re in the mood and scroll down.

THANK YOU for reading what I write. THANK YOU for hitting the ‘like’ button when you want to. THANK YOU for writing a comment when you have the time or inclination. All are much appreciated. πŸ€—

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Filed under Attitude

Sunday 10-22-2023

Pinterest

Listening is becoming a lost art. Too many of us listen until we figure out we don’t agree with the ‘side’ the speaker is on and tune him/her out. People gather on the streets to shout over each other, waving signs. We prejudge based on a person’s appearance and our ears shut off.

The evidence is on the news daily. I watch shorter and shorter sessions of the news before becoming totally upset with the state of the world and seeking some way I can ‘escape.’

I have caught MYSELF being surprised when a talking head says something with which I agree after unconsciously deciding he or she represents an opposing view.

I have to tell you I was embarrassed when I caught myself yesterday doing this very thing. I admitted it to my husband, but my admission fell on deaf ears, as he seems to be more guilty of this than I. He will use the ‘fast forward’ on taped programs with our remote to get to the end of what a person is saying, not even giving the person time to make his or her point before writing them off. Knowing I’m not alone doesn’t negate my embarrassment.

Real listening, respecting another’s right to say what he or she thinks, especially when we don’t agree, USED TO BE one of the things that made our country unusual, strong, and special. Re-evaluating our beliefs, based on the latest facts to come out, USED TO BE another thing that could bring opposing sides together. I HOPE that we can get beyond this situation somehow.

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Filed under Challenges, communication

GRRRRRR!

istockphoto-SIphotography-Getty Images

Did you hear me yelling yesterday? I’m still gritting my teeth though my husband heard me loud and clear.

He let Amber out yesterday. I was working in the house and all of a sudden I heard Amber bark – to get IN. I found my husband in the office at his computer with his headphones on.

Amber had pulled out another stitch while she was out unsupervised. She hadn’t lost the cone. We had discussed the fact that I thought we should take her out on the leash until she was healed and the cone was gone. My husband scoffed, and I pressed the point that she could run through the tall stuff on our property and irritate her wounds, if not pull out stitches.

When I confronted him yesterday, he said that he hadn’t agreed with me and thought the supervision was unnecessary. THAT’s when the yelling started.

The end result is that my husband was unimpressed, I was livid, and Amber is all right. She isn’t bleeding and the wound seems to be un-irritated and still healing. I tried to bandage and wrap it again yesterday, but the wound is right at her ‘elbow’ and it wouldn’t hold. (The wrap the VET put on it didn’t hold, either.) So I guess we’ll just hope for the best.

This morning my husband had taken Amber out – on the leash – and she had taken care of her business without incident.

Sometimes the idea of a hole dug for my husband in the back yard sounds awfully good…

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Filed under Challenges, character-building exercises, Family

Frustration on a Rainy Wednesday

Rice on Your Head

My husband is still in a death struggle with the shop computer. I thought there was a TV problem, and then an Internet problem, yesterday. I finally found out after dinner that it was a HUSBAND problem. HE had made it so the TV didn’t work and my computer didn’t work so that he could hopefully increase the download speed for stuff he was trying to get on the shop computer. Communication is one of the things that has suffered since his strokes.

ANYWAY, we talked about it and agreed that I would have at least a short time at the computer today before he turned everything else off again for the day. Hopefully he will get all the stuff he needs on the shop computer today and he can continue to tweak it however he wants and I can get back to normal.

It’s rainy again today, so I won’t be spending much time outside. Amber came up to greet me this morning while I was making the bed. I pet her and she was SOAKED. I got a towel and dried her off the best I could before coming downstairs. She really doesn’t seem to mind. Her hair is thick enough she might not even realize how wet she is! She greeted me with a huge smile, so I guess HER morning is off to a fun start.

I hope that your day is a good one. Once I do a couple more posts, I’ll watch for you again tomorrow.

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Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, character-building exercises

Almost Perfect Beginning

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Can you see me grinning?

I just enjoyed an ALMOST perfect beginning to my day.

Our son lives and works in Thailand. Before he left years ago, he set up a secure chat program for us to use, plus a secure video chat program. He is a really good communicator, so I can almost forget that he is across the world from us.

This morning we not only used the chat program, but switched to the video program. I got to see his wonderful face, and watched him smile and laugh. My heart simply filled. My husband came in and said “Hi.” Our son thought he looked “handsome.” :0)

We had such a good visit. The only thing that would have made it perfect was one of his hugs. As far as I am concerned, he gives the best hugs on the planet. If I don’t squeeze him hard enough, he lets me know. They make me cry they are so good, healing all the little places that could use a little love.

I hope that you are close to your kids – geographically or with good communication.

Beyond priceless.

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Filed under Family, love

Lessons Learned

Yasmin Mogahed via LessonsLearnedInLife.com

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Filed under Family, Friendship

Thing One and Thing Two

 

Gym Junkies

THING ONE:

When I came downstairs this morning, I found my husband cooking us breakfast! We are on NutriSystem, trying to get a bunch of our lard off, so we’re usually eating one of the NS breakfasts, so this was a really nice surprise. AND he didn’t go nuts, trying to cook what we USED to eat for a typical Saturday morning splurge breakfast. He cooked three pieces of bacon for us to share and two fried eggs. (No toast and jelly, no hash browns, no third egg, no three-pieces-each on bacon, or orange juice.) It was a wonderful surprise, and we didn’t even have to feel guilty, since it was in the proper range of calories for breakfast and we hadn’t had a flex meal breakfast this week. :0)

THING TWO:

I told you recently that my friend, Marsha, and I are having trouble communicating lately. We aren’t sure what the problem is, but we’ve now confirmed email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, have talked on the phone, and are continuing to search for the reason for our problem.

This is Marsha (on the right) with a friend of hers.

This morning I received an email from Marsha, suggesting that we try to connect on the chat program via gmail. I searched all over the place and finally found an icon I could hit that showed she had sent me a connection request. We connected and then proceeded to type madly at each other! It was great, and I’m glad we have another way to communicate, particularly when all else fails. I’ll keep the chat program on all the time so that I can check it each time I come back to the computer during the day and evening to see if she’s left a message, or – better – if she’s available to type at me real time. Hooraaaaay!

What a GREAT start to my morning!!

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Filed under Delightful Surprises, Family, Friendship

Communication

Jean Little via Email from Bill Lites

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Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes