Communication Kills Clarity, Sometimes

Sometimes, my husband asks me what I "mean" by something I said. I talk in a lot of different word pictures or metaphors when I try and describe how I think or feel about a subject. Yet, if his frame of reference, cultural background or general life experience differs than mine, my metaphoric approach is less than clear for his liking.

True, metaphors are like high scientific language or mathematical symbols--if you understand context and application, you're in on the joke or story. If you don't, you can feel left out of an elite club that understands the references, acronyms, puns or play-on-word jibes being tossed around.

I don't plan on changing my sense of humour and don't have a problem explaining my jokes or metaphors. Being an elitist in any sense of the word is not where I want to be or go. I'm going to try and use smaller, more precise words in my conversations and writing. In a word, simplify.