Wanted - A Good Listener

Have you ever observed people deep in conversation and quickly realized that it was not a conversation at all? Rather it seemed apparent that while one of the individuals was talking the other was not listening but thinking about what it was that they would reply. I think we have all been guilty of this character flaw from time to time.

Conversation implies the give and take of thoughts or feelings. This means that after you have expressed your thought or feeling you actually listen to what the other person is saying and then respond to what has been said. Sadly, this form of communication seems almost like a dying art. People have become so self absorbed that they seem not to need to hear what anyone else has to say. Perhaps they feel that the thoughts of someone else is not nearly as important as their own.

This loss of civility is worrisome. We all have a lot to learn from each other but how can this be accomplished if we are unwilling to listen. Maybe the escalation of this damaging trend is another symptom of our fractured society. We have become increasingly intolerant and full of fear as we live under a cloud of constant worry. We are fearful of threats of terrorism, of the very real possibility of losing our jobs, of the inability to meet our financial obligations, and on and on the list goes. Our friends and neighbors are worried about the same things. We might actually be able to learn something from each other or give support and encouragement to each other if we would only listen. Really listen.

It is oddly interesting that we live at a time when there has never been more means to communicate. Talking fills the air the world over and yet real communication may be at an all time low. It is time for us to wake up and realize that as human beings we need one another. We need to be able to communicate with one another and share with one another. That means we need to talk, yes, but also and perhaps even more important, we need to listen.

Keywords: