That infamous Verizon commercial that is inevitably & unintentionally quoted once a day (at least) around the world is echoing in my head lately.
Can you hear me now?
But I guess really, my question is maybe a bit more cutting than that:
Are you listening?
Does anyone know how to reallytrulydeeplymeaningfullypresently listen anymore?
Is that even a thing?
Is the art the gift of listening dead?
Sometimes I feel like I’m living in the computer.
The world of posts & shares & likes & Podcasts & TEDtalks: in other words… a person’s uninterrupted & uninhibited output.
Like, duuuuuuuuuude, take. a. beat.
Breathe.
If you know me, then you know my love language is listening. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know me.
If you want to get in my heart’s pants, then shut up and listen.
OMG, and if you ask a deep question & then poise yourself to reallytrulydeeplymeaningfullypresently listen… ugh, let’s just say I’m a whore for ears.
Woo, is it getting hot in here or WHAT?!
I’m lonely.
–There, does that cut all that awkward listening-as-sex talk?–
I’m ashamed to admit I’m lonely.
I don’t know why. Brene Brown & I are working on that. (Not personally, but a roundabout-way-of-me-financing-her-books.)
What’s so wrong about being lonely?
Does it show a failure on my part?
Does it show a lack of lovability?
Does it show a selfishness?
Does it show a bitter & brutal introversion that will triumph, sadly, no. matter. what.?
And how does it connect to this decay in societal standards of listening?
I am a good listener. I am empathetic. I can 100% ensure a conversation is 100% about you through sexy follow-up questions (see what I did there?!).
And, I am wondering, if my loneliness might be a consequence of this. Do I hide behind being a good listener? Is my empathy a perfectly-crafted, looks-good-on-the-outside, vulnerability-avoidance technique? Do I make it 100% about you so that it is 0% about my shit?
I’m reading this amazing book that fell into my recommended list from the library-sky, at the perfect time. A tiny miracle really. I didn’t know I needed it.
But, gosh, it’s got me. It gets me. I feel seen.
And challenged.
Right now, I’m sitting with & listening 🙂 to this:
So, that’s it for today.
Thanks for listening…