Speaking of which
In the dozens of informal and formal conversations I’m in weekly, it’s often obvious that every word we use emerges from our personal experiences. There are no experience-neutral words, even when we speak in abstractions.
When we talk together about a given idea, problem, event, or opinion, everyone has their own experience of it. There is no absolute “thing” living in space somewhere that everyone is referring to. All that exists is our personal experiences of whatever it is we’re talking about. In the theological realm, as my quantum theologian friend Rick sometimes says: No one prays to the same God.
Good conversations in my world are characterized by everyone’s inquiry in and appreciation for everyone’s unique experience around the common words we use. Conversations become toxic and unproductive when we individually or collectively go in search of meaning that has nothing or little to do with our personal experience. That’s why 10 minutes of speaking in stories and examples is worth more than 100 hours of speaking in abstractions.
