Decide to live your life like a Pilobolus

The first thing that comes to mind when you see the title of this letter is: What in the world is a Pilobolus and why would I want to live like one? For those that are entrenched in their ideological ways, this is where you want to move on but those are the very individuals who need to read this.

A Pilobolus is a fungus that lives on the undigested nutrients in the dung of herbivores. As the Pilobolus matures, it grows sporangia — small pods on top of slender stalks that contain reproductive spores. For the Pilobolus to complete its life cycle, it needs to leave the comfort of its homey manure heap and be transported to a new locale via the mass transit system of a passing grazer’s digestive tract.

Ultimately, it is re-deposited in a fresh new home where it can prosper and once again bloom. Standing in its way is an aura of repugnance — a ring of green grass left around the manure pile that no grazer wants to encroach upon. To resolve this major problem, the Pilobolus has developed the ability to launch its spores past the aura of repugnance and be palatable to those passing by.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, my use of the Pilobolus fungus’ life is a parable. It is a very easy parable to follow. No matter what communication problem you have in life, you can use the Pilobolus solution to remedy it. Face it. While your ideas may come from fertile intellectual ground and be quite reasonable to you, those of opposing values will refuse to digest them.

As long as you are speaking from the high ground of your safety zone, they are repulsed and cannot cross their perceived aura of repugnance surrounding entrenched ideological differences.

 Whether the subject is religion, politics or family schisms, others will not be receptive to your entreaties until you figure out how to bridge this ideological aura of repugnance surrounding you.

So remember, the next time you are faced with a communication situation involving pulsing neck veins and clenched teeth, stand back, take a breath and say to yourself: “Holy crap! There’s an aura of repugnance in the room!” Then, just like the Pilobolus, you need to devise inventive ways to extricate yourself from your comfort zone and bridge the gap.

HERB WIENS

Sandpoint