Listening, and Talk Like Yoda - The Sunday 7 - Issue #73
May 21, 2023 1:01 pm
Happy Sunday!
And happy Talk Like Yoda Day!
National Talk Like Yoda Day is celebrated as an opportunity for Yoda fans to honor the day we first met the wisest little green guy in the galaxy.
Yoda's small stature, quirky way of speaking and connection to the Force made him a beloved character who first appeared in the 1980 film "The Empire Strikes Back," the second installment of the original Star Wars trilogy.
I hope you enjoy today's Sunday 7.
Or, as Yoda would say, "Enjoy today's Sunday 7, I hope you will."
1 ) 
Photo of the Week
2 ) 
Quote to Ponder
“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” — Karl A. Menniger
3 ) 🥾 This Week Outside
This week's hike video is a two-parter.
We ended up starting at one point and then driving down to another. I kept tracking while driving along Clear Creek and the video shows that on the map. I thought it was pretty cool to see.
It was a wet one. But very good.
How can you have fun outside this weekend?
4 ) 
Dad Joke
What do you get when you pick a pig's nose?
Ham-boogers.
I know, I know, it snot funny.
5 ) đź’Ś Relationship Corner
Marriage Pearl # 16: Listen, Listen, Listen!
Listening is a powerful tool in any relationship, especially in marriage.
It is important to learn how to listen with an open heart and mind, to hear what your spouse is saying, and not just listening so that you may respond. Often, we listen to our spouse and our brains are preparing our response to the discussion.
However, listening just to listen and not respond is a skill that can be learned. Listening helps us understand the underlying workings of our spouse, know them better, and be able to be on the same side and pull together for resolution.
Here are some tips on how to become an active listener in your marriage:
- Don’t interrupt: The first rule in the art of genuinely listening to your partner is to not interrupt – let your spouse finish their idea and make their point. Interrupting someone, especially your partner, shows a lack of respect.
- Listen with an open heart: Hear what is there as opposed to what you might want to hear. Listen for what is not being said. Develop the skill of drawing out your mate. They have more to say but will only say it if they feel safe and believe you truly want to know what they are thinking.
- Refine the fine art of listening: Turn off electronics and reserve time to attend to your mate. Listening is an active process—thus the phrase active listening.
- Validate: Summarize and mirror what your spouse has said. This shows that you have heard them and understand their point of view.
- Celebrate the intimacy active listening creates: Active listening allows you to see into each other’s lives. While this kind of intimacy can be frightening at first, the joys of connection and love far outweigh any risks of transparency.
Listening effectively to your spouse is surprisingly powerful in softening his or her heart and leading him or her to have more concern for your marriage. While for some relationships, e.g., friendships, listening can still be effective even if the meetings are sporadic, effective listening for married couples needs to be a regular practice.
In conclusion, learning how to listen actively can help improve communication in your marriage, strengthen your relationship, and help you understand each other better. Remember that listening is an active process that requires effort and practice but it’s worth it in the end.
6 ) 🖊️ Adventures of Steve & Chrissy Update
This week started off with Mothers Day. I was blessed to have contact with all 4 of my kids! Steve spoiled me with a lovely Indian Lunch in Denver and...
7 ) 🤔 Questions for Reflection
In what relational contexts am I truly present in conversation?
What are the relational contexts where am less present and tend to be more distracted by my own thoughts and agenda?