The World Is Grey

   A poem by Justin Brauer

The words that spilled out of her mouth were colorful, beautiful, inspiring. As they spill from her soft lips they pass through the microphone, out of the speakers and splash out upon the crowd as these colorful words hit the ears of eager listeners. The words pass in one ear as colorful as the next, but as they pass through they come out dull and just words, like the world.

Inside the heads of the eager listeners are seas of color, individuality, creation, creativity. The sea of colors become so large and abrupt that every color leaks out from their eyes, seeping in every combination of colors possible showing the crowds’ true colors. Showing how words can change a person, a crowd, a nation.

The nation explodes of color from one girl’s soft, beautiful, colorful words. Igniting a revolution of color, an eruption of every color possible from every one spilling color back to the dull colorless world.

Each of the communication style acts differently when confronted with “The Rule Book.”

Boxes appreciate The Rule Book; require, and take refuge in abiding by the guidelines. They can quote The Rule Book to you:  “According to section 4.65 of The Rule Book, all employees are required to wear a suit and tie on Wednesdays and days ending with the number  5.”

Circles appreciate The Rule Book as well but are more apt to look items up with you—as not to embarrass you with your lack of knowledge. Circles also want to defer to The Rule Book so they don’t seem adversarial: “Well, let’s get out The Rule Book and check on that dress-code rule. It says right here in Chapter 4 that employees are required to wear a suit and tie on Wednesdays and days ending with the number 5. You do what you want but I think we should all follow the guidelines.”

Triangles think The Rule Book applies to others, but not themselves. To Triangles: “Rules were meant to be BROKEN.”

Squiggles, ever making up their own rules as they go-along, are absolutely astounded at the mere mention of The Rule Book: “There’s a Rule Book? No one told me there was a Rule Book. When did we get a Rule Book?”

How do you tell the Communication Style of the person you’re chatting with? Listen to the verbal clues:

Boxes say, “I think.”

Circles say, “I feel.”

Squiggles say, “I believe.”

Triangles say, “I know.”