I have a new weight loss mantra...
I'm more thirsty than I am hungry.
How does that sound? I'm not negating the fact that I might be truly hungry but drinking 2 or 3 ounces of water before I put something solid in my mouth might be just the ticket.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Questioning Communication
When you ask your overnight guest "Do you need another blanket?" What are you really asking?
When Eric or I are sick, one of us sleeps on the sofa. When the caregiver asks the sicko "Do you need another blanket?" what we are really asking is, "Are you cold?" and "Do you remember where we keep the extra blankets?"
That's what you mean when you ask your overnight guest that question. And the guest understands the question. They know how warm they like to sleep. They then judge the heat in the room and the thickness of the covers and determine "Yes, I will be cold" or "No, I'll be fine".
But what if you ask a three year old "Do you need another blanket?" Will they understand the subtext? Ashley owns lots of blankets, am I planning a shopping trip? Does she need another one? Like maybe a purple one? That question does not mean to her what it means to me.
I wonder how many times we are misunderstood because we are in essence speaking two different languages? Some things are more simple--"Would you like more juice?" could mean "Are you thirsty?" or "Would you prefer water or something else from the 'fridge as I am getting up anyway?" Some things are much harder--"How are you?" Are you asking about my health, my family, my day or my job? How much time do you have? Do you really care or is this just a standard greeting?
All of this hit me last night between 2 and 2:30am. Ashley is stuffed up. We stayed at some friends' house later than her bedtime so she is also very tired. It seemed cold in her room to me so I changed my tactics...
"Are you cold?" "Yes." So, I got her another blanket.
When Eric or I are sick, one of us sleeps on the sofa. When the caregiver asks the sicko "Do you need another blanket?" what we are really asking is, "Are you cold?" and "Do you remember where we keep the extra blankets?"
That's what you mean when you ask your overnight guest that question. And the guest understands the question. They know how warm they like to sleep. They then judge the heat in the room and the thickness of the covers and determine "Yes, I will be cold" or "No, I'll be fine".
But what if you ask a three year old "Do you need another blanket?" Will they understand the subtext? Ashley owns lots of blankets, am I planning a shopping trip? Does she need another one? Like maybe a purple one? That question does not mean to her what it means to me.
I wonder how many times we are misunderstood because we are in essence speaking two different languages? Some things are more simple--"Would you like more juice?" could mean "Are you thirsty?" or "Would you prefer water or something else from the 'fridge as I am getting up anyway?" Some things are much harder--"How are you?" Are you asking about my health, my family, my day or my job? How much time do you have? Do you really care or is this just a standard greeting?
All of this hit me last night between 2 and 2:30am. Ashley is stuffed up. We stayed at some friends' house later than her bedtime so she is also very tired. It seemed cold in her room to me so I changed my tactics...
"Are you cold?" "Yes." So, I got her another blanket.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Decorations
Well, the last of Christmas is safely stored in it's boxes. And those boxes are safely stored until next year.
As much as I enjoy Christmas and all it's trimmings. I'm just as happy to get it packed away. This holiday starts in July when Hallmark has it's Open House. It builds and builds with more and more stores adding their perspective. It runs through the after-Christmas sales, advent and sometimes til Epiphany.
We took the wreath off our door and packed away the jiggle-holder this week. There was a bag that we had missed but that was easily distributed among the boxes.
Sigh of relief...
Now just a little rest until spring planting.
As much as I enjoy Christmas and all it's trimmings. I'm just as happy to get it packed away. This holiday starts in July when Hallmark has it's Open House. It builds and builds with more and more stores adding their perspective. It runs through the after-Christmas sales, advent and sometimes til Epiphany.
We took the wreath off our door and packed away the jiggle-holder this week. There was a bag that we had missed but that was easily distributed among the boxes.
Sigh of relief...
Now just a little rest until spring planting.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
