The sun sets on another day…
It was stunning. Kinda like seeing a thing for the first time. The sky was full of fire, and the world seemed both orange and red and full of life at the same time. I enjoyed it!
Sometimes things aren’t as they seem. There are conversations beneath conversations, and innuendo and far more underneath that. What might be a scribble on the wall is actually a tome of interesting ideas considered only by the author.
It is important to pay attention and hear what people are saying while not just listening to the drone of incessant voices that often assail us with their implied meanings and less than perfect approaches to thoughts. Hearing requires that we pay attention to not only what is said but the actions behind it.
An example is the barking dog who looks vicious and attempts to irritate and annoy everyone around them. Is this dog trained to attack? Not likely. It is far more likely that it is afraid and you have to pay attention to the subtle cues of that fear to understand what is going on.
The same can be held true for people. Yes does not always mean yes and although no means no, sometimes you have to pay attention to what is behind it. There may also be 150 shades of maybes and those are often the most difficult to discern. Although they are evident, they may not be presenting you with the reality of what’s in the room.
People often respect the person who is forceful in conversation, but I tend to listen to the person that is patient and listening. That person is trying to understand all sides of a conversation and not just interject their own. In the end that person is the one that is attempting to communicate and that person is the one that is looking for the lowest common denominator or the common ground that he can communicate on.
Do you listen? Do you listen to respond or do you listen to hear? When you respond do you consider your audience and how effective they are at hearing you? Listen closely, hear deeply, but respond appropriately.
So ask the sun sets on another day, I hope you’re listening and I hope you are hearing everything around you. Find the path that finds common ground and as you do keep looking for those people that hear you, no matter what.
Sleep sweet, loved life, and can you hear me now…