Escaping the Blah, Blah, Blah

I have learned a lot about communicating from the deaf community, learning other languages, and the issues with misleading information.

The study of anthropology is an incredible way to approach understanding history. Many civilizations developed tools to aid in communications that led to their advancement. Pictographs, paintings, and the development of the written language are nothing short of astounding when you really think about it! To take something internal and interact with others externally, exploring our perceptions, similarities, and differences- breathtaking!

Today as we type on our computer keys, communication moves at the speed of our internet price. We are so fortunate to be alive at such a time as this! When I say we are "fortunate," one can also counter with all the reasons we are in turmoil. We have the privilege of the greatest knowledge-sharing of mankind.

We now have the actual ability to share and understand the suffering all around us. This big worldview is only possible with the ability to communicate in such a personal way with the broader world. No wonder we are overwhelmed.

The deaf community is excellent at conveying meaning visually. This is the underlying genius of every form of social media today! We see that marketing understands that interactive-visual engagement is far more powerful than just written text. Sure auditory stimulus is involved through music and speech but even with the volume off people scroll for hours to be visually stimulated. In addition, the boom of podcasts and incredible engagement with music platforms illustrate that blind individuals are also communicating with the broader world more than ever!

We now can see other nations suffering that our own would consider an enemy. It is truly new and holds so much potential for actually "loving thy enemy as thy self" because when we understand more about each other we ultimately can share resources in a way to help alleviate tensions and build better relationships built upon mutually beneficial agreements. But I won't get into that.

Our brains produce chemicals that tell our bodies what to do. That response is directly influenced by our senses. What we hear, see, smell, taste, and feel create within us the understanding of our world. Choose what you expose yourself to! We are living under the influence.

What I really want to communicate is this:

The sense of reality that our society creates depends predominately on the tools we use and the information we choose to communicate or perpetuate.

Why do we communicate nonsense, blah-blah-blah, and then expect our social sense of reality to hold order?

We write, sing, draw, paint, sign, etc. not just to interact with the sounds or symbols of the words or figures but, to convey a meaning within our minds to others. We bring our internal to the external through communication. So, yes. The way you communicate matters. It is the fundamental building block of a society. Communicate intentionally, playfully, and openly.

Each generation needs to learn old and new lessons about concepts such as racism, lawful behavior, morals, guidelines, equality, humanity, faith, trust, and love. We often assume that everyone knows what we know, but this is not true. It's fascinating to explore how what we consider "natural" is often based on our observations from the age of 3- 12.

As elders, we need to remember that kids will explore on their own. Of course, that is their journey but; what we communicate also matters! One meaning each generation has the responsibility to pass down to the next generation is this simple phrase:

"If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."

Does this mean we must only communicate about joyous and happy things, "NO!" It is good to communicate about suffering, sorrows and struggles so that we can also communicate about support, depth, and connection, then take action to relieve suffering. THAT IS GOOD

Communication is key in teaching each generation how to deepen human connections and overcome issues like racism, grief, authority, power, fairness, and justice. We must teach from past actions and show the way. They will adapt to new challenges but need to know what you have learned about what is good.

It is good to not communicate nonsense to those younger than yourself.

We all need to be asking ourselves, "Is what I am communicating of any good, or is it part of the blah, blah, blah?"

(By no means is this a critic of anyone's work or judgment of lighthearted topics. I hope good is found in all things that bring growth and stave off decline or decay of joy or true connection.)