It is Not About the Nail. Billy Jack. America. Some Interesting Answers. It is All About Respect.
- Quote of the Week: “To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.” – Chief Justice John Marshall
There has been and will always be the critical life skill of speaking. We put a high value with effective speaking and communication including public speaking and writing skills to help youngsters grow into their desired career paths. This is all good and necessary but what about the skill of listening?
Why has the listening skill been left on the table? Why is this skill not supported by curriculum similar to speaking and communication skills? How do we expect children and young adults to adhere to a high level of listening skills when no one has been taught to listen? How can we expect adults to make the best-informed decisions if they have not ever been taught to listen?
According to Joseph DeVito, who developed The Humanistic Interpersonal Communication Model, there are five essential stages of listening:
- Receiving – The process of hearing the message.
- Understanding – The act of learning the meaning of the message.
- Remembering – The essential skill by applying what was said in ways that are meaningful to you.
- Evaluating – Or, judging the value of the message which obviously will vary from one person to another.
- Responding – The act of providing feedback and your indication of involvement.
There is no doubt that listening, depending on the circumstance, can be challenging. The five stages of listening do seem obvious, but then again, when was the last time you were introduced to someone only to forget their name five minutes later?
I am sure you have seen the “It’s Not About the Nail” video. Though a bit on the silly side, the video drives home the point that the man is trying to solve her problem without really listening to her issues and how she is feeling. Come on, it is not like men do not listen! 🙂
- Movie Scene of the Week: The “kick” is still talked about, and the line Billy Jack (Tom Laughlin) delivers is still a classic. As described above, the moron should have listened a bit better. The world could use a few more Billy Jacks right now.
- A happy upcoming 4th of July weekend to you and yours. I hope that no one takes our Independence with a grain of salt, especially considering some of the chaos, terrorism, and war happening at home and abroad. I was surprised that Independence Day was only declared a federal holiday in 1941, considering the United States is celebrating it’s 249th birthday. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence and two days later, on July 4, delegates from the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by the one and only Thomas Jefferson.
If you have a flag, please fly it. If you do not have one, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ace Hardware have flag kits for under $15.00. To our Canadian friends: you celebrate Canada Day this coming Tuesday….and my experience with Canadians tells me most of you will be celebrating all week long!
In a time that the United States must step forward, this speech includes one of the best military directives and warnings, with the coldest line spoken in the last twenty years. Unfortunately, the reminder to the world still resonates today.
- There is so much noise regarding the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The same goes for the War Powers Act. I will not dive into the politics surrounding the 14th Amendment but if there is a challenge to a Constitutional Amendment, should process and procedure not follow by reaching a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress? Regarding the War Powers Act, both President Bush and President Obama engaged in military actions without congressional approval. Why would last weekend’s bombing in Iran be any different?
Again, these are questions I have regarding both topics without engaging in the strange world of politics. Your take on both subjects is appreciated.
This week’s Question of the Week generated many interesting answers. I asked “If you and one other person found yourself stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?”
- Three things I would want on a deserted island would be lip balm/gloss, quick dry towel, and toothpaste/mouthwash (only because someone else is on the island with me). 🙂
- Something to light a fire, something to purify water and a knife.
- A gun and 2 more females. That’s all I need.
- Drinkable water, yoga mat, hat! Lol.
- Lip balm, a picture of my children and my bible.
- Satellite phone, matches, a cow.
- Johnnie Walker Black, a good jazz station, and the Bible.
Here is this week’s Question of the Week: If you could time travel, which era would you visit, and why?
- Pure Talent. While Denzel Washington is best known for his roles in motion pictures and television, he also provides motivational videos that cover a variety of topics. I came across this short video and his words should resonate with all of us. Denzel, for many reasons, is Pure Talent.
Feeling a bit militant and badass this week, eh?
Militant may be too far-fledged!!!!