Ed. — Archived from the Sunday, Dec. 1, print edition.
GRETNA, NEBRASKA — I cannot remember every coaching moment with my 15-year-old daughter, but there are a couple that stand out in memory because an idea seemed to really take root.
One of the earliest was teaching her how to tie her shoes. I clearly recall the look of joy on her face when she mastered it. It’s hard for some of us to remember such fundamental lesssons, but learning to do new things is empowering.
More recently, I coached her on why new drivers should pay attention to dashboard indicator lights. She did not respond with joy this time, but she understood that motor oil, brake fluid, gasoline capacity and proper tire air pressure are essential to her pending freedom to get to places on her own.
And get back, too.
I shared my philosophy about the two main pillars of education somewhere between these two points.
“There are two subjects,” I told my daughter, “that you really, really, really need to pay attention to.”
She was perhaps eight or nine at the time.
Math, I said, was important to her now and will be for the rest of her life.
Solving problems shows the ability to think logically, and thinking logically helps us navigate our days.
Next up?
“Sweetheart, you have to be able to write intelligently,” I said, “because that is something that will serve you well the rest of your life.”
She looked puzzled by this.
We walked with her around the house, and I showed examples of different types of writing in everyday life that communicate in very different ways.
We looked at instruction manuals, chapters from one of her books, emails I had written or received from friends and companies. She read aloud the advisory labels on a bottle of cough syrup.
All good information that someone wrote in such a way that we could understand the messages conveyed. Some writing communicates. Some writing entertains. Other writing persuades.
And writing gives us a chance to refine what we have to say before sharing it.
We sat down at her desk and took out a piece of paper. I asked her to write down whatever she was thinking about. She scribbled out a few sentences and showed them to me.
We talked about her sentences and evaluated each for content, grammar and spelling. I had her add some adjectives to improve the mental picture for the reader. I then asked her to read back her original sentences followed by the new ones. She thought the second set of sentences were better than the first. Lesson embraced.
Writing is a wonderful thing, in part, because it can be revised and improved.
The power of the written word should never be minimized in a world filled with visual and auditory messages, as well as technologies such as artifical intelligence that some think might replace ways we express ourselves. We should write.
We can’t assume personal thoughts, emotions, beliefs and messages can only be shared with those who hear us speak. We should be able to take those thoughts from our brains and put “pen to paper” so others can receive them as we mean them to be received.
When I was young, I wanted to read everything I could get my hands on – comic books, newspapers, novels, etc. At some point, I made the connection that I was reading others’ words, ideas and thoughts. I wanted to be able to share my thoughts as well. I enjoy writing for any and every purpose.
Most times, the words flow easily. Sometimes, not so much, but I welcome the challenge. I am thrilled my daughter has embraced writing, a tool that helps us communicate, think and evolve.
The author, a business coach and consultant, was a longtime resident of Virginia Beach. He and his wife, Kim, and daughter, Kara, now live in Nebraska. Reach him via email at mckco85@aol.com.
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