A World of Strugglers

People are many things. Dreamers. Social-oriented. Self-absorbed. Compassionate. Knowledgeable. Not-so-knowledgeable. Worldly. Unsophisticated. Lots of what they - we - are is contradictory.  Some of it is flattering. Some not. The focus of this entry is another thing we are: strugglers. Each day, regardless of our station in life, we struggle to overcome a challenge or obstacle that looms before us. For some, it might be the need to finally balance their checkbook. Others might have to figure out how best to pack everything in preparation for that long-awaited family vacation. There are those who work on coming up with ways to keep their nations secure. And there are even some who struggle with the best way to connect with those around them.

The focus for this latter group of strugglers is, of course, communication. It is a category to which all of us belong. Granted, some are better at it than others. Their ability to empathize may be more keen than some. Their ability to string together coherent thoughts may be stronger than most. Still, despite this, it does not mean these folks do not struggle as well. As we know, communicating well is not something that any of us do perfectly all the time. Figuring out the best way to be understood without being offensive, off-putting or even boring is not an exact science. For those who do it well, however, one could even argue their struggle is more intense than those not quite as capable.

We run into an old friend or are introduced to a stranger. What are the best words to fit such occasions? We find ourselves arguing with a loved one. How can we say what we feel without further aggravating the situation or alienating them even more than they already are at that moment? Tough challenges. I wish I had sure-fire answers to both. Perhaps the path to a solution begins with recognizing communicating well is  not easy and, therefore, requires thought and being able to look beyond our own interests and understand the perspective of others. That is a struggle that, ideally, from which we will never shy away.