Expansion Encounters - with Dusty
"Everyone wins in 2010."

Thank you to all of you who continue to support Life Now and our ventures!

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You can read archive issues of "Expansion Encounters" at Expansion Encounters and now at New Expansion Encounters Current

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Communication Thoughts
by Dusty Reed

Recently, a friend sent directions via email of how to get to his apartment. "Take the highway to the end. Turn right at the second block. There will be another street. Turn right. Go two blocks and turn left. Follow this almost to the end. My apartment is the second house in."

These were instructions through a city of 30,000 with three possible highways as a route for getting there. No street names were provided, not even a house number. Could you have found his friend's apartment?

You get the idea. The directions are far from being concise.

In a discussion, we often get careless or in a hurry and only give a portion of information. This can cause confusion for the receiver and usually requires repeated and extended explanation. This is not as often necessary if we initially speak with precise and concise detail.

This may take practice. In writing, we can edit what we desire to share with every word carrying the intended value. In speaking, once we say it, we can't take it back to edit.

Practice can bring precise intention. By staying attuned to what we are saying as well as listening carefully to the other person, we can clarify in a concise way so our intention is more easily received.

When I am speaking with my husband, he is an easy target for practice. If I hear myself being redundant or not clarifying easily, I shut my mouth and start over with more precision. I sometimes even joke with him that I am practicing.

In turn, when speaking with a close friend, I have learned what to watch for in what I have to say. For example, she admits that she pays attention only to what comes after a "but" in a statement. In being concise, I do not have to use "but." I can state the portion of my dialogue in a shorter version.

There may still be times when others do not receive as the thought was intended, depending on their past experience or memory of something they attach as similar. With a close friend or family member we can consider, before speaking, how our thought might be received. Contemplation, through practice and staying aware of the intention in the conversation, brings closer accuracy.

Someone writes that they would like to subscribe to my newsletter. For some, this might seem precise. I publish three newsletters. Getting to the precise subscription desired requires my writing back to them with a description of each newsletter or with an order form, requesting that they ask for a specific newsletter. Had they communicated more precisely in their initial request, they could have been receiving the actual newsletter rather than the extra time involved with my asking a question or sending an order form.

Vocabulary is important in both the spoken word and in writing. converse as near to our intention as possible brings the closest understanding by others. Communication, to the highest degree, is a science.

Such a variety of ways there are to correspond. The spoken word can reveal inflections in the voice expressing emotion. Attentive listening lets others sense our concern. Body language expresses whether we are listless or attentive to what another is sharing.

We are revealing much about ourselves, our interests or our concerns with each word spoken or written. Anything we put into words encourages developing a relationship, whether it be considered revealing and emotional or whether it imparts a message with no roots or substance.

Life is for joy in every moment. Being happy with ourselves comes through giving of ourselves.

I have an endless reservoir of thoughts to share with my family including dreams, obstacles, happy moments, hurts and every useful part of my life. I also often learn something significant by listening to them with interest. I can ask questions. This type of interaction brings us together and closer through spiritual, mental and physical support of one another. It gives an undefined depth to love and supplies a geyser of overflowing joy.

Communication is an experience in every part of life. Our message is being revealed to the world in this space called time. It may be carried to future generations and have a dramatic effect on beliefs and lifestyles. We take this responsibility, whether it is through speaking, our choice of music, our expression through art, or sharing a message through writing as we ask ourselves, "Am I communicating my intention?"

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Communication Through Journaling
By Dusty Reed

Learning to communicate through journaling can reveal wholesome tools for communicating with others as well as creating momentos preserved for future generations. It also reveals thoughts not previously recognized.

Such a variety of ways there are to communicate! The spoken word can reveal inflections in the voice expressing emotion. Attentive listening lets others sense any concern. Body language expresses whether one is listless or attentive to what another is sharing.

Expression from the inner being can be found through music, whether it be dancing, playing a musical instrument, singing or writing scores and lyrics.

Artwork in any medium communicates. It may, as with other forms, be received with a different perception than how it was offered, depending on the life experiences of the receiver.

Communication also takes place through writing. Writers pour themselves into word pictures sprinkled with emotion, humor, wisdom and an understanding of the readers' concerns and interests. A writer may be writing to inform, offering understanding and expertise through recipes, world travel or how-to's.

When anyone steps into a book, article or poem, they are often touched by the impact of oneness with the author. They are right there with them. They are communicating.

Writers reveal much about themselves, their interests or their concerns. Anything put into words is communication, whether it is considered something others can see with an emotional touch or whether it imparts a message with no obvious roots or substance. This latter can sometimes make sense when it is read again at a later time.

Through writing, a message is being revealed to the world in this space called time. Its fragrance may be carried to future generations and offer a dramatic taste in beliefs and lifestyles. People take this responsibility, whether it is through speaking, a personal choice of music, expression through art, or communication through writing, as the question is asked, "Am I communicating my intention?"

Sometimes the intention has not been thought through or worked out. One way to discover the intention is by journaling, writing whatever comes to mind, concerning the subject. This can bring about an "aha!" as the intention reveals itself on paper.

Another way to discover insights is by writing the question in as few words as possible and then letting the mind spiral from that thought and writing very briefly what comes to mind. This will bring another thought and so on. As thoughts continue to spiral and the thoughts are written quickly, the answer is often revealed as that "aha!"

Through the years, I have created a variety of journals revealing my outlook on life. They are not journals until my writing makes them such. Some journals are hardbound keepsakes with chosen writing copied onto their pages. Some are spiral notebooks with thoughts scattered throughout, amongst grocery and To Do lists. Some are typed and spiral-bound in diary form with inclusions of family happenings, learning experiences and new awareness.

Some reveal questions such as, "why do I feel like this?" with no written solutions. Some are written as poetry. Some reveal the solution. Some begin with free flow writing that does not make much sense and then it may lead into solutions. Some are letters to special friends. Some I enjoy rereading; some are tucked away in boxes or on closet shelves.

It does not matter what journals look like or what they contain. They are one's thoughts put into writing, frozen in time. They often show a picture of what thoughts are within at the time. They become a tool of measurement when they are read again later. "Do I still believe this?" "What has replaced this belief?" Often one can see that what appeared in the past as a great opportunity has become either a natural part of self or no longer holds any concern.

Preserving, in writing, one's lifestyle, likes, dislikes, activities and hobbies can be a treasure chest in coming years to grand and even great-grandchildren. People who dig into geneology are delighted when they find writings by ancestors.

Journaling is healthy. Many insights can be revealed by taking time to write, long hand, one's thoughts.

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Some sites I recommend:

Healthy Benefits of Journal Keeping

Thought Communication

Communication Skills

Angel Valley, Sedona, AZ The Wild Rose: Creatress, Mother of Life

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It is my joy to share with you that I have been posting most of my drawings at Dusty's Gallery and at Dusty's Art

I continue to add new rose drawings and some photographs available at art.com! You can view them at Roses.

I now have some of my rose drawings at an auction site, Art By Us And, I have a page with note cards (for sale) with some of my rose drawings. You can check it out by going to Rose Note Cards.

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And, for anyone who enjoys playing at ebay, lots of goodies (records, books & post cards - occasionally some nic nacs) are available at Dusty's eBay

You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested! If they would like to subscribe (at no cost), they can write to me at With Expansion Encounters as Subject. Thanx muchly!

Working toward consideration and to better humanity, we want to encourage free enterprise, free speech. We are Life Now, a spiritual happening on and off the Internet.

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Pathway

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Life Now

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Enjoy every moment!

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