The Best Way to Love is to Listen January 20, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People.comments closed
Imagine that you are volunteering on a crisis hotline and a frantic caller calls in to discuss options for dealing with abuse at the hands of her spouse.
You use your training to go over all the options available to victims of domestic violence, from restraining orders to shelters, but none of them seem to fit her situation.
As one after another option is rejected, you realize that you may not be able to help this woman find a solution to her problem.
Desperate to help, you start to go over the options again, but she interrupts and says, “Thanks.”
Surprised, you respond, “But I didn’t do anything. I haven’t helped you at all.”
“Of course you did. It’s been ages since someone really listened to me.”
In our hurry-scurry lives, we often feel we are not being heard. Instead of tuning in to hear what we have to say, people tune us out.
When someone takes the time to listen to us, and hear what we are saying, it feels great. We feel validated.
We feel better about ourselves and the world seems a bit brighter . . . even if nothing else about the situation has changed.
Sometimes the best way to love is to listen.
No rules. Just write!
Related posts: Ignorance, Apathy, and Dishonesty * To Thine Own Self Be True * Kindly Be Honest * Are You OK Right Now? * Bending the Rules . . . And the Truth
Drop by Drop January 20, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness.comments closed
As Mother Teresa recognized: “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
A bucket is filled drop by drop.
Related post: Every Journey Begins With A Single Step
Spirit Lights The Way 