Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Listening

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."
--Epictetus

I can go days without talking - totally absorbed with work, husband out of town, lost phone.... add them together, and I am without words.

I can also talk too much - meeting up with old friends, interviewing for a job, nervous chatter,... leads to some verbal excess.

I can also go days without listening - again, absorbed with work, absorbed with self, pretending.

I don't think, though, that many have ever been accused of listening too much. I know I haven't. I want to do more of this, more listening - to others, to God. I am thankful for a career path that teaches me to listen, to truly listen, with my ears, my eyes, my heart... to give my time to those who just need an extra minute or so to make themselves understood. Loving where I am and what I am doing. Learning to listen.