Listening Is An Art You Would Do Well To Master

Listening is a skill, an art and a science, all rolled up into one.

It is not just hearing, but taking in what is being said. And, letting that strike a chord with you, to understand and to evaluate. To gain something from the engagement.

To focus and concentrate. Not to waver and attend to other things and pretend you are there with the one who is talking. Going that extra step.

Just like you would like others to do when you are talking and conversing. Appreciation is what we need.

And waiting and being patient for your 'turn' to speak. Not jumping in as we so easily do, or thinking ahead of time that killer punchline that will 'capture' or take over the conversation of make our point - be it agreement or disagreement. And trying to put ourselves in a good light.

And also then responding to what has been said and meant, felt and encountered. Sharing a bit of yourself. Engaging with with other people.

Yet at times the focus and concentration is just not there. It is amazing what a discourse can bring up. We are off in our own little world. Thinking and questioning. Ourselves and others. At times we can question and wonder about life itself.

We can then, even in the middle of a conversation, think about what is really happening in our life - either prompted by the discourse or not. What we are doing. What we are involved in. What direction our life is going in. At times like these words can be very powerful - healing, soothing, comforting, relaxing . . .

The power of words . . .

If we let ourselves be uplifted and filled with their sometimes hidden insights. Too gently and slowly to impact on our lives as we read - and in the future when we recall their meaning for us.

I hope this page will do this and more. I hope this example will help to express life in an insightful, penetrating but easy to read manner. And help us to question the lives we lead and the manner in which we live them.

We can talk but how good are we at listening
we hear but do we take it all in
we assess but what is our understanding
we act - but how clear is our action

I long for our chat to be hearty
to be able to express life's sheer beauty
and to listen to you in your flow
to be able to develop, learn and grow
in ways that I do not readily foresee
while I long to relax and be carefree
I worry about being too choosy
I love being content and free
but above all I want to be me

All best,
Martin