happy leap day!

how was your 29th feb? i know mine's good (:

anyway, i was reading a book on how to be the one people like, listen to, and remember. i particularly find something interesting on 'how to turn every conversation into a connection'.

there's this 1 scenario on how to get the uninterested spouse to watch a football game on a sunday afternoon during football season. the winning communicator would say something along these lines, "the game comes on in a few mins & i want to watch it, start to finish. i know you don't like football, but i know i like hanging out with you. can i have my cake and eat it too? will you bring your laptop out here on the couch with me, or maybe just some light reading you need to do? it will make the game more fun for me to have you nearby. the game will be over at four & we can head to Home Depot to get the paint & brushes i know you want."

now the losing communicator, "the game comes in a few mins, & i thought even though you dislike football, i'd like you to stay out here. i work hard all week & this is my only chance to veg out. tell you what: as soon as the game is over, we'll head straight to Home Depot to pick up the paint & brushes you want. i think that's more than fair."

key pointer: replace building anger & an impending argument with tranquility & togetherness. it's interesting how the same scenario could lead to very different outcomes by just the little changes in the words you choose to use.

i guess, we would better appreciate and feel appreciated if words and actions aren't clouded by sarcasm and ill-feels.