Dear Readers-

Here's what I'm talking about!  What Mark said!  Thanks for taking the time to engage in "connection," Mark, and proving that it can occur here and anywhere people are willing to be prompted by honesty to BE honest.  That's an exchange between anyone who reads the post and his reaction.  It can prompt us to have a back and forth about "communication" vs. "connection."  That's important.  YOUR OPINION AND IDEAS ARE IMPORTANT.  Here's what I'd say about the amazing ideas in Mark's comment:

You're so right.  We're all guilty of "communicating" without "connecting" when we are just thinking of the next thing we want to say rather than trying to understand what's being said TO us.  Learning to listen is the first step in learning to connect and it's a hard skill for all of us to master-did I say master?  Maybe "be successful at once in a great while."  I find that when I am having an exchange with someone, personal, business, on a board-whatever-if I keep "namaste" in mind-the divine in me greets the divine in you-I'm much more likely to be a good listener and to "connect."  When it really happens, connection feels so much better than communication, which always has the risk of one person left empty or feeling misunderstood...and when you're that person or that's what's coming at you, it feels anything but good...you're right.  Wish it's what we all had with one another all the time.

Sincerely Yours