Connecting Confidently & Kindly

Communication is both art and skill. The ability to write and speak messages in a clear and articulate way can be profound. It can incite a crowd to riot, or to protest in peace. It can sway a the people of a country to turn on their own friends & neighbors, or bring hope when all feels lost. They have taught us that words matter. Yet many people today avoid face to face conversations. In some ways verbal conversations have gone by the wayside and we often message through text or email meant for brief  succinct notes. Yet people long for connection with others, people often say they are lonely but have a thousand friends on a social platform that they do not know. Almost 50% of all first marriages end in divorce, and the odds get worse the second and third time . Almost universally when people have problems with others it is a lack of skills in the area of communication. These skills are attainable and easily learned. They can be generalized with practice, and perfected over time. The skills we lack are not our human failings but often needed  skills for an adult to navigate life but that we often not yet learned.