The Gift of Listening

“Look for happiness under your own roof.”― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

“…good listeners have a humble perspective. Humility in listening means that we let go of preconceived opinions, we let go of the need to be right, we let go of our own insecurities, and we let go of the need to appear wise, good or spiritual. In short, we let go of ourselves in order to be present to the other. This is a high calling and a commitment we will need to return to again and again.”― Alice Fryling, Seeking God Together

The gift of listening.
Really listening not merely waiting to respond.
To be right.
To pronounce your opinions and return to your corner of the ring.
Asking, asking again and waiting.
Allowing space and silence for understanding to unravel through conversation, connection.
An exchange, a dance.
Life is rich and meaningful in relationships.
In moving from self, self-absorption, ego into engaging with the souls among us longing to be seen, heard, and accepted.
There is happiness, not perfection, under our own roof.
Start with empathy, kindness, compassion.
To really understand the heart of another, and of self as well.
The task of today, of a lifetime.

“We do know that no one gets wise enough to really understand the heart of another, though it is the task of our life to try.”― Louise Erdrich, The Bingo Palace