Some of us colleagues were talking on how short we are on one very important thing - listening.
The conversation moved on to how many kids could be drawn back from getting into wrong habits or doing wrong things if only someone would listen to their conversations - one would then be able to detect undertones which are really cries for help.
Even with each other, how often we just don't keep quiet and listen - we're in such a hurry to give our point of view, or solve their problem (which they haven't even asked us to help with), or just to show we are know-it-alls and have all the answers. Why can't we just keep quiet? For all you know - and it often is so - while the person is talking, and we are giving them our ear - QUIETLY - they figure out their own solutions. All they needed was the reassurance of our presence - that's all.
In my meditation, that evening, I came across this wonderful quote:
Our listening creates a sanctuary for the homeless parts within another person.
~ Rachel Naomi Remen
So true - and so what we don't do...