I've been busy and it's been hard to find time to write my newsletter. That bugs me, because I like writing, and I like trying to hone the tone and content into something that I'd like to read if I were my own subscriber. Things pop up that I get excited about sharing, but if I fail to jot down the ideas, they're lost. It's just how these things work, I guess. This morning I've been considering what to write, and I glanced up at my bulletin board. It's over my desk so I have a place to pin things I like to refer to—sometimes just images, other times lists.

It's a peculiar collection of stuff, including a painting I did of crazily colored leaf-shapes, various cards, and a crocheted version of vocal cords that might look like some other bit of female anatomy (repetition in body structures is very interesting, non?) In the top left hand corner, there are two lists: one is the 12 principles of animation (now THAT'S a rabbit hole for another time!) and the other contains the key points of a TED Talk I try to watch annually. In 2015, Celeste Headlee, who is a radio journalist, author, singer, and public speaker, made this TED presentation that's a shade over 11 minutes. It's well worth the short time it takes to watch 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation. I'll list the ten tips she offers, but hope you'll still find the time to watch it, because she explains them beautifully and enthusiastically. Here they are:

Don't multitask.
Don't pontificate.
Use open ended questions (who, what, when, where, why).
Go with the flow. Let your own thoughts, stories, or ideas go away.
If you don't know, admit it.
Don't equate your experience with that of the speaker.
Try not to repeat yourself.
Stay out of the weeds—details don't matter.
LISTEN.
Be brief; be interested in other people.

I hope the list piques your curiosity and you'll watch the video. While the title is about having a better conversation, it's very much about listening without allowing our existing opinions to get in the way of hearing someone else's ideas. Imagine if this could be modeled and taught at school. What kind of effect might that have on the world's current polarization? I know—I'm not the first person postulating about how to fix this, but everyone—you, me, and people who don't see eye-to-eye with us—would feel less "them versus us" if they felt heard. I like that idea. I like it a lot.

MUSICAL ENDEAVORS ARE BREWING

I've been calling SO MANY CONTRA DANCES lately, and more on the horizon! They've been a lot of fun, but there'll be a wee break in those because summer brings travel (France! Santa Fe! Lark Camp!) Plus, I miss singing. I have some ideas...they are brewing and I'll tell you more once they're a bit better formulated. Stay tuned!

39th ANNIVERSARY – LUCKY US!

It's true, Kent and I have been married (or in a married condition?) for 39 years. Technically we were married in 1988, but living together and sharing finances since 1985, so that counts! Who knows how the time flew by so fast! We did clean ourselves up and go out for a fancy-pants dinner together. It was lovely. He is lovely. We are lovely, still.

BEING A BETTER LISTENER