Communication – at the roots of what we THINK we know

A person involuntarily raises their eyebrows slightly and their pupils dilate 0.5 of a millimeter when they see us.  We don’t know why, but we LIKE them. Communication matters.

An advertisement presents iconographic branding and we embrace the feeling of an idea, and want the product.  Those purchases fuel our global economy.  Communication matters.

An animal trustingly attempts to present its personal vocabulary of scent to us in a friendly act of, ‘I really like you, please like me, too?’   Instead, we bathe in scented soap, put on our anti-perspirant, wear our laundry detergent-perfumed clothes, and are sadly repulsed.  Communication matters.

A squid flashes mesmerizing vivid colors of rapid visual essays, then mysteriously flies away into the dark oceanic depths amidst a burst of ink before we even have a chance to think.  Communication matters.

We look into the eyes of a spider or insect, and we don’t see ourselves.  Our actions then reflect this lack of connection.  Communication matters.

Beyond physical details of communication, we all have more in common that we think.  In fact, we have everything in common.  The wish to survive, have resources to flourish, be part of communities, and take care of our young.

Across all boundaries and languages, one part of communication is perhaps much easier and simpler than we think.  The most effective universal language is spoken beyond words, images and ideas.  It is spoken with our hearts.

© Michèle Carbery, 2011

P.S. Since childhood in England, I have very much wanted to see the communication of fireflies in their natural environment.  If you have advice on the best places to do so, I would love to hear from you.