Rather than counting why you’re right and I’m wrong, or I’m up and your down,
or they’re out of bounds and we’re right on target,
can we count on the times/things/topics on which we agree?

~~~~~

Information overload. We all experience it multiple times and in multiple forms each day. Like the coupon your local store gives to you. Looks good until you read the lengthy list (in very small type) of the exceptions.

Or the sporting events that must list every conceivable bit of minutiae concerning a simple play in a game. Like exit velocity. A baseball player hits a homerun. That used to be good enough. A run or runs score. Yeah! Now we have to get the exit velocity and launch angle. Huh? The team doesn’t get any more runs added to the scoreboard for an exploding exit velocity or the angle it left the bat. But we have to listen to it. Ad nauseum.

And you can think of much more.

We are inundated, buried, and overwhelmed with information. At times it is good. Other times we become numb as everyone counts the tally marks.

From likes and views on social media to dollars in the donation pot to the last-minute emails imploring more money because “the goal” is in sight to the probability of your team making the playoffs to the % increase of crime or infections rates to counting the differences rather than the similarities.

Everybody is counting. But are they counting the right things?

As I sing in one of my songs, “Everybody’s countin/countin everything/countin their fears/coiled like a spring….countin the tatters/countin the tears/just ain’t countin what matters…” (©2021. Steve Piscitelli)

No doubt that we need to be aware of, say, infections and variants. Or that crime is up in the community.

But can’t we concentrate (even lead with) more on counting the good stuff that is up. Like the high percentage of neighborhoods without a crime increase (or even with a decrease). Or the number of meals delivered to isolated senior citizens. Or mentors working with students.

Rather than counting why you’re right and I’m wrong, or I’m up and your down, or they’re out of bounds and we’re right on target, can we count on the times/things/topics on which we agree–and build from there?

Can we count on building a bond? Can we count on appreciating achievements without belittling those who came up short?

Counting things we share and counting things that matter.

~~~~~

Video recommendation for the week.

As we count we can end up counting people into boxes and creating separations. Take a look at this short video.

~~~~~

Make it a wonderful week and HTRB has needed.

You will find my latest book, Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit, in
eBook ($2.99) and paperback ($9.99) format. Click here.

My dog Roxie gets top billing on the author page for this work. Without her, there would be no story. Please, check out her blog.

And you can still order:

• Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019, print and e-book). Available on Amazon. More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at the above link.
• Stories about Teaching: No Need to be an Island (2017, print and e-book). Available on Amazon. One college’s new faculty onboarding program uses the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same. The accompanying videos (see the link above) would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

You can find my podcasts (all fifty episodes) here.

You will find more about me at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2021. Steve Piscitelli
The Growth and Resilience Network®
Atlantic Beach, Florida