How to Force Someone into Your Shoes (or Dealing with Pea Brains)

First thing this morning, I had a fascinatingly long argument with the head of my building's management, (let's call him Pea Brain), so I had plenty of time to practice all the communication techniques I've ever read, seen, or thought about.

I was doing my best to be a good listener. I was staying calm and not using "you" words. I was showing him that I understood his point of view. But Pea was persistent. He refused to see my side of it, no matter how sound my logic or nonthreatening my tone.

So I tried a little game on Pea that I tend to use on me. I said, "Okay, maybe you and I are just used to dealing with these kinds of situations in different ways. Let's say you are me. This is how you feel (followed by description with Pea as the main character instead of me). What would you do if this were you?"

At this point Pea finally stopped for a moment and scratched his head (or at least I'm reasonably sure that he might have but can't be certain seeing as it was a telephone conversation). He seemed to think about this (or at least I'm reasonable sure he may have thought but can't be certain since all he said was "uhhhh"). And then he finally tried on my proverbial shoes. At first he didn't quite get it, so I supplied him with some more information, and then, at last, he finally seemed to understand. He said,  "Fine whatever. Why are we wasting time talking about this?" (translation: ohhh I get it and feel kinda dumb). I tucked this technique into my arsenal and smiled.

So role playing isn't just for new-agey shrinks and drama majors after all.

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[Air Jordan Retro]

Everytime I work one of these camps I get strengthened and reminded of the ways of a warrior. One of those ways is that I am bigger than any obstacle. Well while I was in the final days of camp and the changing of many lives I received a phone call that my home was seriously damaged by water. In pursueing the the explaination I learned that my friend who was watching over my animals left the water running in my master bathroom for several hours at full force damaging the upstairs but more so the downstairs as the water ran throughout the walls and ceilings.