Your Thoughts

Dear Reader,

I make mistakes.
I would like to apologize for them.

I realize some of them may have done you harm, or tarnished that of my own image in your minds.
If I have offended you in any way, please, let me know.
I am open to constructive criticism (if done without intention of causing me pain or offense).

For what am I if I do not learn from that I have done wrong?
I would be a stagnant pool, where there is no evidence of living.

Worry not that your words affect me to such extremes,
For I am a living, breathing person capable of thinking over such things prior to incorporating them into my daily life.

It is my desire to avoid mistakes,
And if I do make them is to correct them.
If I cannot, then it is for me to understand the why and to see if there is anything more I can do.

It may not be your place to judge,
But it is to have an opinion and to have a point of view.
So please, if ever you feel like it, let me know.
I am here, I am alive and I am open to what you have to say.

Preaching 1

Dear Reader,

Throughout my travels I have seen many a couple argue or mis-communicate amongst each other countless times and I myself have been involved in more than a few of these.

But one thing I have noticed that has stayed constant throughout is that one party will have a "emotional" side to the topic while the other will try to "rationalize" it.
Usually one will be giving off emotional responses while the other attempts to trivialize the emotional response via rationalization, eg. giving reason/justification for it, knowing you are right in that situation.

However, one usually ignored topic during such conversation is the rationalization of the emotional side of the conflict.
There is a reason people feel the way they feel. And by not understanding this reason, it leads to more misunderstanding, more deviation as to what is the real root cause of the problem.

It is easy to think of what you want to say during an arguement.
It is harder for you to keep quiet and listen, without thinking of the point you want to argue.
It is in the best interest for both parties to attempt to understand the situation the other person is in prior to launching into a tirade of words that get either parties no where.

It is fine to let your emotions loose.
Do it appropriately.
Do not misdirect it to those who are innocent of it.
Find a way to direct and channel that anger into something that will release it and calm you down.
There is no way to empathize while you are in emotional turmoil. Make sure that both parties are aware of it.

Bear in mind, I am not perfect.
I would not say that this is the only solution.
This is what I have observed and what I am putting into notation for future reference.
Read and think about what I have just said.
If it doesn't apply to you, fine.
If it does, maybe you should do something about it.

Either way, this is where my Preaching ends.
I do not claim to be perfect,
but it does not stop me from thinking.