Respecting Ice

The other day we had the first snow fall of the year in our area. Fortunately, it was not too bad as it was not enough to close schools or cause people to do any meaningful digging in their driveways. Still, it called for those of us who had to go driving or walking in it to be exercise caution. Cold weather, after all, does contribute to snow fall just as it certainly causes the ground to freeze. To me, a frozen ground can often be more treacherous than one covered with snow. Not only is an icy ground slippery, at times it can be difficult to see. As I have done from time to time over the years, one can step onto an icy patch without realizing it and suddenly find themselves on the ground without warning.   

The point is one can find themselves in a dangerous way - walking on ice - without even realizing it. To avoid any kind of injury or fall in such conditions, the trick is to recognize the warning signs, freezing temperature being one of them. If one is aware of their surroundings, then they are less apt to find themselves caught off guard by what I will call negative fall-out. This is not unlike conversations folks have whey they are sharing opinions. When exchanging opinions, people can and do often become animated and forceful in noting how their view is best and anything contrary to that is totally off-base.   

Doing so can be likened to stepping onto a patch of ice. Unless you are careful - respectful - criticizing the heartfelt perspectives of others can have unwanted consequences. Given the current great divide within our country when it comes to folks of differing views, one of the problems is people tend to put forth their views in the same way one steps onto a patch of ice. If they do not do so with respect, then the result in all likelihood includes hurt feelings, distrust, yelling, and lack of desire to engage in further dialog. In other words, too many of us these days are falling on our butts because we are not respecting others. Bottom line: if you respect ice, then the odds of falling down and getting hurt are greatly reduce. At the same time, respecting the views of others will raise the level of future conversation and possible collaboration.