The trouble with Hezbollah

In the wake of recent mispronunciation of Hezbollah (HEZ bo LAH), I got to thinking: All the Israelis are doing, really, is eradicating the Hezbola virus from the middle east! Heh, heh. (A little terrorism-as-a-disease humor there. And terrorism can be just as deadly, you know.)

To be a better listener

In pursuit of better communication skills, the thought has occurred to me: effective communication is more than just talking. Communication is a two-way street. If I expect others to listen to me, I need to listen to them. And listening requires active participation. Simply hearing the other’s words is not enough, nor is it enough to perceive and parse what has been said. To be a better listener, I must honor the wishes of the other person. This is not simply doing what I want to do with their wishes, but seeking to understand and do what they want done. I think after so many years I am finally starting to get it. I just hope I get far enough along in my understanding before I would mess something else up.