Showing posts with label Alan Alda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alan Alda. Show all posts

Friday, September 22, 2017

CHOOSE: TO EMPATHIZE

In his latest book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This look on My Face?, Alan Alda calls misunderstanding the grit in the gears of daily life that "jams" our relationships. (p.4)
That's why one needs to empty oneself of that self-promoting/arcane language that causes misconceptions and often hinders our relationships with others.
We can suffer the snags of misunderstanding---in important relationships b/c we are getting so bogged down in confusing language that usurps the important aspects of communication--relating well to other people.

What are the essentials of relating well to others? According to Alda, empathy is key---a fundamental ingredient in for real communication. An important component of communicating well with others.

The intro alone with his funny dental experience when he didn't understand the tethering of his maxillary labial frenum is a worthy read in and of itself! As an author, actor and screenwriter, Alda once again shows his unassuming intelligence along with his uncanny ability to make sense of the minutiae of an esoteric language whether that of a scientist, computer engineer, researcher or medical professional. His goal is to teach those in medicine, insurance or technology to talk to the rest of us by stressing empathy.

Empathy. In acting, it's called relating. (p.5) Listening to them. Hearing them. Observing them.

In Scripture it's putting ourselves in another's place. Not being self-promoting, but considering others more significant that yourself. (Philippians 2:3) A way of looking more to another's interest than our own. (1Corinthians 10:24)

Maybe in communicating/relating with others, we all need to do the same. Empathize.

As scripture puts it, an understanding that gives one the sensitive ability to "bear one another's burdens." (Galatians 6:2)

Simply put, choose empathy.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Celebri-TEA---smallest cuppa is more than enough

Author, screenwriter, TV star, Alan Alda, is truly a celebrity. Just his name brings his face to mind. Just a glimpse of his face or the sound of his voice usually brings his name to mind.


But....what I appreciated in his book, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, was his understanding of the impact of celebrity on our lives---not always in a positive way. 

Celebrities are affirmed by # of hits on their FB or number of retweets on their twitter accounts, to mention a few. Name recognition becomes key. Everyone "knows" the Kardashians, who are famous for being famous!

USA Today keeps us abreast daily of WHO is "trending." Naturally, celebrities are always the ones trending! That's what trending is----more media exposure.

"Google Trends" in 2005 had Angelina Jolie trending back and forth as a popular search term with Hurricane Katrina (Oct.) When she and Brad Pitt announced a baby, (Dec) the search term, Angelina, got more attention ("hits") than the Iraq war. (Alda, p. 185)

Familiarity. Their names can be bantered around as if they are family members or BFFs. Politicians used to court celebrities---now they try to become celebrities themselves. Name Recognition is so powerful.... (Alda, p. 186)

Felons have been elected to office because their name is known----at least in our town and in DC. 
In our culture, these days celebrities can win without qualifications. 

That's a cuppa celebri-TEA I don't want to serve to anyone, much less sip for myself.
But God....reminded me of my responsibility--thanks to Lo's scripture choice during our prayer time.
This small pre-election cuppa celebri-TEA was more than I could swallow during the debate debacles.
Once the election winner is confirmed, I will honor Titus 3:1, regardless of the outcome---celebrity or not.