Interpretation vs. Intent

This week I was reminded of the the disconnect that can occur in communication when a person’s interpretation of something said is contrary to the message the speaker had intended to convey. There are many reasons why miscommunication occurs but I find almost all instances are instigated by an emotional response. Many times we hear what we want to hear and almost everything we take in is filtered by the paradigms we have constructed over the years, and our own self talk.

In communication, context is everything when considering intent. A solitary word has very precise definitions but once you put that word in a sentence with other words or a paragraph that defines the context, its relevance to the conversation changes. Stripping a word out of an entire conversation and ignoring the context in which the word was used will almost always distort the intent behind the word. Not to mention that the more ambiguous the word that is used, the more wiggle room there is for interpretation.

Anger management training is probably one of the most powerful tools a person can acquire to improve their communication skills. Not only does it teach you how to convey your thoughts in a non confrontational manner, but it also gives you the insights you need to open your mind to alternative interpretations of other people’s words and actions.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

And the Monkey Flips the Switch

Once again the Alberta government is restructuring our healthcare delivery system. Their feast or famine approach to budgeting the provincial coffers continues to leave mayhem in their wake. By the time our healthcare system adjusts to the new corporate structure, the circumstances of the economy will have changed and so will their spending habits. This is why our healthcare system will never be as efficient or effective as it could be.

The US debate over healthcare reform has caused me to ponder. If you consider that the US public expenditure on healthcare is much higher per capita than most developed countries that have universal healthcare (Americans pay more in taxes devoted to medical care - not including insurance premiums, co-payments, fees, and other health care costs), it becomes disconcerting that the number of Americans that have zero healthcare coverage is fifty million - almost double the entire population of Canada.

What about the quality of healthcare? The arguments about timely access and current technologies seem to be invalid in light of the value the United States is getting for their healthcare expenditures. The US is one of the lowest ranked developed countries on measures of life expectancy, infant mortality, and reductions in amenable mortality (deaths from certain causes that should not occur in the presence of timely and effective healthcare).

So why is everyone so worked up about healthcare reform? I understand that a big part of this debate is that many are playing to the socialism paranoia response. But in light of all the public money that has been sunk into bailing out so many corporations and all the US government incentives rolled out to help people purchase cars and homes, I would expect a somewhat more tolerant palate toward the prospect of universal healthcare.

“The welfare of each is bound up in the welfare for all.” - Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)

Fat, I Ate Fat

I’m twenty four days into my vegetarian challenge, a challenge that I hope to make a permanent part of my lifestyle, and a complication has manifested. I couldn’t help notice that within the last two weeks I have lost some muscle mass in my upper body, arms, and shoulders. I had this same issue with my legs late last year and so of course I am a little concerned as to what may or may not be going on.

I figure there could be a couple of things at play. I have completed fifty thousand pushups over the past eight and a half months. Could it be I am not giving my muscles enough recovery time and thus am actually breaking down muscle rather than building it? Or could it be that with the increase in physical activity that comes with challenging the UBBT, my daily caloric intake may not be sufficient? My biggest concern is that maybe I am not taking in enough protein as a vegetarian and thus am not feeding my body what it needs to maintain my increased muscle mass. Or could it be something more sinister and systemic that is still lurking below the surface. With what happened with my legs earlier, a guy has to wonder.

Regardless of what this turns out to be, I have to admit that I feel the best I have in years. Sure my legs are giving me issues but my chronic shoulder problems have all but disappeared. My metabolism is such that I can think of a number and within a week my weight is right there. I have cleared up many bad habits that I didn’t even realize I had. It’s been a great year.

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Interbeing

Friday was the first anniversary of Travis Panasiuk’s death. It took so long to put that event behind me and now I find that even though it has only been a year, it seems like he has been gone for ten. For weeks prior to this day, I agonized over whether or not it was appropriate to contact his family. There was no doubt that the day was going to be an emotional one for them. Would my interference make the pain worse or would they welcome my sentiments? Ultimately I decided not to impose myself and so I let the day pass without contacting his family directly, but my thoughts and prayers were with them.

I spent my Friday thinking about Travis and how much he continues to influence and inspire me. Travis’ passion for his kung fu was infectious and I have used his inspiration to fuel my drive as I push myself to new limits. It does bring a smile to my face when I realize that Travis continues to live on in all of us. The fourteen months that he was in my life’s sphere will always be a part of me. His influence is reflected in every student I teach and in every person they meet. Travis’s soul has become imprinted upon all he has met, he is a part of our collective DNA.

“They are not dead who live in lives they leave behind; In those whom they have blessed, they live a life again, And shall live, through the years, Eternal life, and grow each day more beautiful As time declares their good, Forgets the rest, and prove”
- Hugh Robert Orr