Ripples v10.17: Listen!

Ripples v10.17: Listen!
Apr 28, 2008: a free weekly splash to 19,038 subscribers
from Paul & The Ripples Project

__PEBBLE ______________________________________

Without good communication, a relationship is merely
a hollow vessel carrying you along on a frustrating journey
fraught with the perils of confusion, projection, and misunderstanding.
-Cherie Carter-Scott, submitted by Linda H, Lincoln NE

__BOULDER ______________________________________

Conversation is a sharing of stories.
We half listen and wait
for the moment we can jump in.
We vaguely pay attention
to the person speaking,
seeing where our piece will fit.
While waiting,
we forget to really listen.
When we forget to truly listen,
we miss things.
-Sarah Morrison, submitted by Heather S., Beaumont TX

__PONDER ______________________________________

I dare you to choose a conversation you know you will have today and commit right now to listen more carefully and more completely than you normally do. Whether your conversation partner is a colleague, supervisor, classmate, friend, family member, neighbor, or stranger, I suspect that both of you will notice the difference. Don't just wait for your turn to talk; instead, become obsessed with what the other person is saying.

Are you listening?

Peace,
Paul
p.s. I'm sorry I passed over a mention of Passover last week...Shalom!