Misunderstanding

​Misunderstanding
It does not take very much to make me marvel, but that is what I have been doing.  It amazes me how often what I say is not what is heard.
Merril and I often have a laugh at something because what we hear does not make much sense.  For example, “the cat jumped over the mouse” makes sense (though “the cat ate the mouse” would make more).  But if I hear “the cat jumped over the house” that is much harder to take in or believe.  I am not used to picturing a cat jumping a house.
I would be thinking we are talking about super cat.  Cats are pretty nimble and can jump high but over a house?  (I think the cat next door thinks this is cat heaven.  Birds come and go all day.  It is one of the reasons I advocate that all cats should wear bells.  They are such good hunters it is no wonder our wildlife is disappearing.)
Misunderstandings are most likely to arise with those close to us.  Our conversations tend to be longer and more in depth with those people.  I cannot generally do anything about something that is misunderstood in a passing conversation.  If it is, the person may go away thinking “that guy’s weird.”  They would be right, but for the wrong reason.
I often don’t bother taking a matter further, if the person I am talking to is set in their ways and will not listen to what another may say.  Some things seem to be set in concrete.
I saw two people have a hum dinger of an argument one time because each was entrenched in what they believed, and what mattered to them was their point of view rather than the other person.
It seems to me understanding has to matter.  I adhere to speaking to listen rather than speaking to speak.  Listening really is the only way to learn.  Perhaps what I think is wrong.  I may be sincere, but I am sincerely wrong.
Even with the best of intentions though I can mishear (particularly as I get older and my hearing is not what it used to be).  I guess it is one of the reasons why I like to repeat back to someone what I heard.  Often I am corrected, but to me that is the best time to be corrected.  Besides understanding is really the only way I can grow as a person.
It can be hard though.  Openness and a willingness to hear suggests a vulnerability.  Some are closed for what they see as legitimate reasons.  Perhaps they have been open before and got hurt and decided that was not going to happen again.  Unfortunately there is also a tendency to write off the other person without understanding what was really meant.  My view of the world colours what I hear.
Being misunderstood is a fact of life.  Sometimes others do not want to understand.  All they want is to further their own agenda.
That does not stop me though.  First and foremost, I am responsible for myself.  Being true to myself is the way I want to go, and the best I can do.