Namatay si Alexa noong isang araw (Filipino) Alexa died the other day.<\/p>\n
My thoughts:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>Alexa died the other day.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When it snows in Colorado Springs, the internet goes hay wire and \u201cinternet unstable\u201d flashes upon on TV and computer screens. Surprisingly, Alexa went silent.\u00a0 I usually found Alexa (pronoun she or it?) intrusive when she would answer questions, I had directed to breathing creatures.\u00a0 I always resented her suggestions for adding additional tasks and services.\u00a0 I always would harshly say \u201cNO.\u201d<\/p>\n In response, I believe that Alexa ignored me when I talked too fast.\u00a0 My wife would laugh and speak slowly to Alexa.\u00a0 Who responded dutifully – and then Alexa died.\u00a0 My wife sorrowfully said that we had had her for a while and that perhaps she had come to an end.\u00a0 Alexa was a gift from my son, who thinks I am from another century.\u00a0 Yes son, I am from the 20th<\/sup> century, my birth certificate says Territory of Hawaii and I did exist before there was an internet.<\/p>\n Why then was I saddened? In two heartbeats, my family immediately began to seek out a new version of Alexa. This is why Julian Treasure\u2019s book attracts and alarms me.\u00a0 He is absolutely correct when he says that communication today means fingers and a cell phone. He writes, \u201cWhen we want to communicate, our first instinct is to reach for a piece of technology and type. [1]<\/a>\u00a0 The other day, my son came stomping downstairs saying that he had texted me and why was I not responding. \u00a0I shall spare you what I told him.<\/p>\n Treasure describes the tyranny of the eyes,[2]<\/a> the cellphone, computer, the TV screen.\u00a0 I am frightened because he is so correct. I am alarmed because he is also correct about AI\u2019s.\u00a0 If Alexa is a rudimentary form of an AI, then I have already, albeit reluctantly, turned to the dark side.\u00a0 Society\u2019s movement back to verbal communication is laced with salt, \u201cwhen each of us has our own AI assistant, we will have no need to deal with dozens of apps and our umbilical connections with screens will be broken.\u201d We will he adds, \u201ccommunicate with other human beings by speaking and listening.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n NPO Impact <\/strong><\/p>\n While we wait for the AI takeover, Treasure clearly describes the process that the U.S. has come to in regard to immigration.\u00a0 He writes, \u201cThe desire to be right is so strong that we are easily seduced to move down a long and slippery slope.\u00a0 First come caricature, which makes it easier to dismiss those we disagree with.\u00a0 Next is condemnation, prejudice and bigotry.\u00a0 Ultimately the slope leads to hatred or difference, which has no place in democracy, which relies entirely on tolerance and civilized disagreement.\u201d[4]<\/a> This truly describes the serious chasm that exists between the Democratic and Republican parties on the topic of immigration. Civilized disagreement has long since disappeared from legislative action on addressing immigration reform. \u00a0On March 9, 2024, I have invited several speakers to address the topic of immigration.\u00a0 I am tempted to lead with Treasure\u2019s words\u2026\u201d We need more listening in politics, and we need it urgently.\u00a0 Politicians meet often for \u2018talks\u2019.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t it be a better world if they met for \u2018listen\u2019s instead?\u201d[5]<\/a> Texas Republican Senator Cornyn\u2019s office has been invited (no response so far).<\/p>\n The decades of discord over immigration legislation are played out in Duffy\u2019s comment, \u201cImmigration and religion are two of the most divisive issues in the world today.\u201d[6]<\/a>\u00a0 The lack of listening and speaking abounds within U.S. politics and sadly within the U.S. Church.<\/p>\n James 1:19 \u2013 \u201cBe quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger,\u201d could be liberally applied here.<\/p>\n Tom Chivers and David Chivers , in their book\u00a0 How to Read Numbers,[7]<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0<\/em>warns of the data and statistics<\/em> viewed on Treasurer\u2019s tyranny of the screen. Their book is a training module on how to discern the media\u2019s interpretation of that data and their presentation of it to the general public.\u00a0 Treasurer\u2019s screen and Chivers statistics work together to inflame dialogue on immigration policy.<\/p>\n 2023 \u2013 Facing the day. (Self Care)<\/strong><\/p>\n These last two books, Rock and Treasure, are insightful, and both have recommendations for self-care. David Rock reminds us that our stage has only one spotlight and that we must be cautious about putting too much of our daily 2023 on the stage at one time.\u00a0\u00a0 He goes on to say that making a priority of prioritizing is key in maximizing our energy.\u00a0 In short, this makes us less stressed out, and more effective. \u00a0Treasure continues this focus on self-care.<\/p>\n He is prominent on TEDtalks and his website is a treasure trove of face to face encounters. On September 5, 2017. https:\/\/howtobeheardbook.com\/2017\/09\/05\/3-outcomes-conscious-communication\/<\/a>\u00a0 Treasure speaks to his \u201cThe 3 outcomes of conscious communication.\u201d<\/p>\n Treasure writes, \u201cI believe there are three overarching outcomes to conscious communication. These are outcomes that I\u2019m sure you will care about a great deal, Wellbeing, Happiness, and Effectiveness.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n In short, Wellbeing – poor communication leads to misunderstanding, which can leave us feeling lonely and dejected, he adds, \u201cit\u2019s important that we listen not only to the people in our lives, but also to the everyday sounds that we encounter. Only then can we be aware of their impact and take control of our health and wellbeing through sound.\u201d (from website)<\/p>\n 2) Happiness \u2013 The only factors that do seem to correlate with happiness are connectedness and service.\u00a0 People who have strong family and social connections, or who serve others in meaningful ways, tend to be happier than average.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n 3) Effectiveness \u2013 Speaking and listening are critical skills if you want to make a difference in the world, to lead and inspire people or to be a great parent. [10]<\/a>\u00a0 From his website talk, \u201cCommunication skills impact our ability to persuade people \u2013 to enroll people in our ideas, our visions, and our visions. This has a huge impact on how effective we are and the outcomes we experience in life.\u201d He adds, \u201cListening is also crucial for effectiveness \u2013 particularly in sales or leadership roles. If you run a team, listening is possibly the single most important skill to develop if you want to transform your effectiveness at work.\u201d<\/p>\n TED talks and other places: <\/strong><\/p>\n I am still digesting Treasure’s book.\u00a0 As I feast on his use of sound in self care,\u00a0 I should mention that he is easily found and fun to listen to on the internet, in addition to his 5 TED talks, he has some other interesting stuff.<\/p>\n Verbal judo: 4 ways to use words to diffuse conflict<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n