Once Bitten –
What started as a day of cleaning up the yard for guests who were coming turned into a near death adventure for a couple. A woman was weeding her flower bed when she spotted a snake. Frightened, she screamed, and her husband came running to see what was wrong. Spotting the snake he decapitated it with a shovel, “killing” it, saving his wife from harm. A few minutes later he returned to remove the snake body…
“But what they (the Sutcliffes) didn’t know is that snakes can still bite and inject venom for at least an hour, if not more, after being decapitated. So when Jeremy went to pick up the snake’s head about 10 minutes later, he never expected it to bite him in the hand…” (Read Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/06/07/a-texas-man-decapitated-a-rattlesnake-it-bit-him-anyway-and-he-nearly-died-his-wife-says/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8359d1db2ddd)
This harrowing tale came from the Washington Post. I read it this morning and learned a dead snake isn’t exactly dead. The article goes on to say that a snake’s head can bite you up to an hour after it died or more! That’s incredible that something no longer alive can still be a danger.
Reflecting on the article I thought about how most people have hurts, habits, and hang-ups in their lives and how often these can rear their ugly heads and strike even after we thought we had dealt with them. I listened to a story today about a woman who is an alcoholic, rageaholic and can’t stay out of jail. She struggles to make it two weeks. She has a history of trauma and abuse and her emotions and body bear the scars.
The dead, the past, have ways of haunting the present. Always proceed with caution.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
Essentialist 
What is Received
Jul 24
Posted by thewannabesaint.com
What is Received –
Some friends and I were talking the other day about listening. More to the point, we were talking about people hearing things which were never said.
In communication lectures I emphasize the importance of knowing your audience. To the best of your knowledge; have they had a good day, how are they feeling, are there any stressors and pressures weighing heavily upon them? All of these determine what they hear when you speak to them.
What about environment? What is the location of your conversation, do you have privacy, are there bystanders, can you talk without being interrupted by eavesdroppers? Again, these have a lot to do with how your words to another are perceived. And of course, what is your history with the person whom you’re speaking with?
Communication is 80% non-verbal. Only 20% of what we say to another person, or a group of people, is said with language.There are many other factors to be considered to ensure your words are received with the right intent. Unfortunately, even taking most or all of these ingredients in mind, it doesn’t guarantee the words you speak will be what the listener hears.
As one who speaks one on one and to groups of people regularly I have many stories of folks excitedly telling me; “What you said today really spoke to me!” When I inquire about the specifics they share about topics I didn’t talk about and hadn’t even considered! “Thank you!” they say. “You’re welcome!” I reply and walk away trying to figure out how they received what I clearly didn’t give.
It also happens in my writings. A few months ago I wrote about an ugly shirt and a comment someone made about the unsightly garment. As I try to do in my daily writings I gave a lesson learned from the encounter. I thought it was well written and to the point until someone responded to my post in an aggressive way. Though I tried to explain that what he received wasn’t what I wrote, it didn’t matter. Eventually I had to accept what he read and the meaning he took away from it even though it wasn’t my intent.
Wisdom tells us to measure our words. They are incredibly powerful. They build and destroy. Lift us up or tear others down. Too often we are careless with what comes out of our mouths and never consider the consequences until after the words are spoken. Breathe, before your speak and when what is received offends and harms, make sure you apologize with words more carefully chosen then the one which came before.
blessings,
@BrianLoging (Twitter)
thewannabesaint.com
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Tags: #build, #comment, #communication, #converse, #destroy, #ears, #harm, #intent, #thinkbeforeyouspeak, #trust, #words, breathe, Listen, Talk