October 8, 2023
My husband says that I ask a lot of questions. In the past, he has felt some pressure to answer them all. Now I preface most of them with “I wonder.”
As in “I wonder why that house is pink?” Or “I wonder how many kinds of dragonflies live in Ontario?”
Of course, most of us quickly do Google searches for many of our answers.
But for the interpersonal value of good questions, the art of conversation is crucial.
You cannot Google your friend’s hurts, joys, and opinions.
I have learned from the best: people in my life who have listened thoughtfully.
They usually have asked clarifying questions in response to my comments and opinions. And then waited for my answer to unfold. Here are some you can use this week!
What did you like about...?
Why do you think...?
Is there a reason for that?
What impressed you the most about...?
What makes you feel that way?
How do you know...?
How did you arrive at that conclusion?
Let me know how it goes!
