Mokusatsu
Mokusatsu is a Japanese word with several shades of meaning. Much like many of our English words, the meaning is left up to the person using the word. Only that person knows the intent.
Mokusatsu: to ignore, to refrain from comment, or to seek more information.
Looking back in history it is easy to imagine “what if,” “should of,” “could of,” or “would of,” scenarios to the different events. Consider this next situation: In August 1945, Allied Forces were preparing to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The Big Three Conference in Potsdam took place in July, at the conclusion, the Allied leaders demanded an unconditional surrender from Japan. Japan replied with “Mokusatsu.” There is no way of knowing now, with certainty, what Japan meant. At the time, the interpretation was left to a translator. That translator utilized the meaning ‘to ignore.’ One wonders, had a different translation been utilized, such as ‘to seek more information’ – perhaps of what exactly the Allied Forces meant by ‘unconditional surrender’ – would the Allied Forces have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
Due to the current state of affairs, many of us are utilizing technology to communicate with work, family, and friends. Consider how many times you may have had to resend a text to clear up confusion from a previous text. Think about emails you may have sent only to get a response that made no sense to you. Upon further inspection you see that the question you sent could have been interpreted different ways. Even when we are face to face with others, we often ask for clarification of what a person has said. We rely heavily on body language to tell us what their intent was. For example; you ask your friend if they are having a great day. They reply with “yes all good.” Along with that verbal reply we hear sadness in their voice, their shoulders are slumped, and their face show no emotion. We now know to ask for further information or even just say “I’m here if you need me.”
Many times we assume that we know what a person wants or needs. Often times we are wrong! We may lead with good intention, however, our assumption negates our intention. As we find ourselves, supporting people in their homes with limited time in the community due to COVID-19, now is the time to seek more information.
Behavior is a means of communication. What is that person trying to communicate to us? For example, I smoke cigarettes. A dirty habit to be sure! However, I can tell you that behaviorally when I want out of a conversation, or I feel uncomfortable, I use my nasty habit as a way of escape. Crazily enough, my dog was prescribed Reglan for stomach problems. He began jumping up and down from the bed, pacing the halls, and making a low grumbling sound. He had canine dysphoria. This is similar to human akathisia. Akathisia is a movement disorder in which a person has a feeling of inner restlessness and inability to stay still. The medication given to him was to be helping him, but his behavior indicated otherwise. Thankfully I have been working from home and was able to spend time observing him and use those clues to decipher what was wrong.
We are all, as a whole, adapting to new and different times as our country goes through this pandemic. Hopefully, we can use this time to help us decipher what it is the people we support are really trying to say. Mokusatsu – my intent is to seek more information before I make an assumption.
