I always encourage people to be very clear in their communication with their spouses or partners.  But every once in awhile I hear from someone who has come up with a great way to “drop a hint.” A friend of mine, a newlywed, said that she really wanted her husband to give her a pearl necklace for her birthday.  The day before her birthday she woke up and told him that she had a dream that he gave her a pearl necklace as a gift.  “I wonder what that means?” she asked innocently.  “You’ll find out tomorrow!” he said with a grin.  The next day she was pleased as punch when he presented her with a beautifully wrapped gift, she just knew that her hint had worked and she had gotten the necklace.  Her husband had a huge grin on his face, proud that he had picked up something special for his bride.  She opened the wrapping to find “The Dreamer’s Dictionary!”

Yes, that’s a bit of humor, but it illustrates the point.  We each have different filters, different translations, different interpretations.  Be clear with one another when it is important, and keep a sense of humor when the message sometimes gets lost in the transmission.