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This past week I learned a valuable lesson I've learned time and time again already. This time, though, I think it sank in.

What was this infamous lesson I've been (I'm ashamed to say) simply letting travel in one ear, glance off my brain and continue out the other?

Communication is a two-way street. An important two-way street that probably should be busier than it is.

The situation that really made this sink in was a combination of occurrences that involved friends, coworkers, mentors and some people I consider all of the above. I could maybe blame some of it on unexpected occurrences, but the details of what happened and why it happened aren't important.

The important thing to know is that I took all of them personally.

Some people told me not to take it personally. It was kindly suggested that I might take things too personally sometimes. But if I sit and contemplate it, I don't think I do. When I take things personally, it means I really care, right?

And if I really care, I can't help but take things personally.

I've worked at the Daily Egyptian for five semesters now. College life isn't mine without the Daily Egyptian being part of it. I spend more time in the newsroom than in my own apartment. Naturally, something I've devoted so much time and energy to has become part of me.

Would I change anything that happened last week, however unhappy it made me? No, mostly because I believe everything happens for a reason, and lessons I should have learned long ago have finally made me realize what I should do.

Criticism and advice, when both are fair, is something I welcome in my newsroom. Lately, criticism seems to be a one-way street more often than not. I'm going to do my best to speak to everyone involved - whether in a mistake, controversy or something good - so I know the whole story before offering my opinions.

I want to knock down the walls in and around the newsroom. Not only figuratively, but literally. I want to encourage all you readers, if you have any questions you want answered, let me know.

Communication is important in all of my relationships. I realize I don't always hold up my end of the deal. I'm going to try to spend more time talking and listening and less time complaining about things I can't change. I'm also going to try to be more understanding when I feel like those I love could have, and maybe should have, talked to me about something.

From now on, I'm going to take special care driving down my side of the sometimes bumpy road to good relationships, and hope everyone tries to do the same.

Lohman is a junior studying

journalism.

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