Divided we Fail
It's Sunday night and I'm in a beautiful little Bed and Breakfast in Detroit, Michigan. I'll be speaking at a conference in the morning; but for tonight, I'm relaxing and writing.
I just saw a bi-partisan video on www.dividedwefail.org
it speaks to the need for us to drop the pettiness of politics and urge our candidates to address the issues we're all concerned about -- Democrats, Republicans, young and old. There are some concerns sincerely needing attention: healthcare, the economy, the environment, the War, etc. Rather than making it party issues .. let's hold all candidates accountable for addressing the needs and make it issues for all.
Prior to viewing that site, I responded to yet another Boomer-related blog entry about how contentious the boomers are as a generation. We have lots of passion and lots of opinion to go along with that passion. We love to spout off and argue. Well, I don't know if we all do, but many of my peers and certainly "moi" ... loves to spout off.
I wonder sometimes if by being contentious I put people off rather than bringing them into alignment with me. Perhaps I need to listen more graciously and be more open to the thoughts of others. In the old days, when I was a psychotherapist, I was a superb listener. I wonder if I've lost that. I know I haven't lost my compassion, but have I lost my ability to really focus in on what others are saying.
Where is all this going? What's the point?
Point: For now, it appears that a key to everything is in how we "be" with another. If we "be" contentious, we'll get one outcome. But, if, however, we "be" compassionate and open and respectful with another, we'll get a different sort of outcome. If that's the truth, then we are certainly totally responsible for how things go in our life and the results we create across the board.
If we take that to politics, then perhaps the consideration is how we listen to those who have different ideas than we do rather than shutting down to them.
Point: I'm going to take on listening more openly and with less judgement. I'm inviting you to do the same. let's do it in all areas of our life. It's my intention to create more agreement than division.
Divided we Fail, Aligned we succeed.
Have a wonderful Monday. See you soon
I just saw a bi-partisan video on www.dividedwefail.org
it speaks to the need for us to drop the pettiness of politics and urge our candidates to address the issues we're all concerned about -- Democrats, Republicans, young and old. There are some concerns sincerely needing attention: healthcare, the economy, the environment, the War, etc. Rather than making it party issues .. let's hold all candidates accountable for addressing the needs and make it issues for all.
Prior to viewing that site, I responded to yet another Boomer-related blog entry about how contentious the boomers are as a generation. We have lots of passion and lots of opinion to go along with that passion. We love to spout off and argue. Well, I don't know if we all do, but many of my peers and certainly "moi" ... loves to spout off.
I wonder sometimes if by being contentious I put people off rather than bringing them into alignment with me. Perhaps I need to listen more graciously and be more open to the thoughts of others. In the old days, when I was a psychotherapist, I was a superb listener. I wonder if I've lost that. I know I haven't lost my compassion, but have I lost my ability to really focus in on what others are saying.
Where is all this going? What's the point?
Point: For now, it appears that a key to everything is in how we "be" with another. If we "be" contentious, we'll get one outcome. But, if, however, we "be" compassionate and open and respectful with another, we'll get a different sort of outcome. If that's the truth, then we are certainly totally responsible for how things go in our life and the results we create across the board.
If we take that to politics, then perhaps the consideration is how we listen to those who have different ideas than we do rather than shutting down to them.
Point: I'm going to take on listening more openly and with less judgement. I'm inviting you to do the same. let's do it in all areas of our life. It's my intention to create more agreement than division.
Divided we Fail, Aligned we succeed.
Have a wonderful Monday. See you soon
Labels: Alignment and Agreement, BAby boomers, boomers and politics
posted by Ann Fry, Head Boomer at
7:19 PM
2 Comments:
Sadly, the problem with some people is they spend time listening but they haven't actually heard a word that was said. Then you have those people who spend a lot of time "talkin' loud but sayin' nothin.'
I do want to be heard but feedback is as equally important.
The candidates do speak to the issues...depending on their audience. That's the problem...trying to be everything to everybody instead of having a set of core values and sticking to them. I think of people like Bobby Kennedy, Gene McCarthy and Barry Goldwater. Whether you agreed with them or not, their message and their beliefs didn't waver, and they were more than willing to defend their beliefs even if the audience was at odds with them. Now it's all sanitized spin doctoring, media magic and empty shells.
Listening is a lost art. Any time spent watching some of the TV talk shows is the perfect mirror. The hosts are so busy badgering and interrupting that true debate and discourse is lost. Yet another reason to toss the set out the window...
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