I'm On my OWN nerves

When I see a picture of myself running the ‘cake hole’, like this one, I get annoyed with myself.

I want to be a good listener. But most of the time, I’m not.

Most of the time, I’m distracted in the head or off pontificating (see above).

Sometimes, I catch myself looking behind the person speaking to me. (The worst!)

I know what I need to do. 

I’m not alone. Good listeners are few and far between.

I would like to remember to create the space for others to talk….and for me to listen.

I want to refrain from helping others to get to the point. (I can only imagine what my husband would enter here…)

I want to bite my tongue when someone is searching for the perfect word.

I want to stop filling up the empty space with jargon…blah, blah.

Oh, and I would like to avoid talking over someone (or talking at the same time).

I’ve had too many of these verbal, traffic jams as well...mostly over the (cell) phone. Either way, this creates a messy conversation.

And of course, put an end to the mega-multi-tasking, while someone is speaking to me in person (or not).

I will try. I won’t expect miracles. I already know my mouth will not stay zipped. But for today, I’ll try.

I’ll try to notice the eye contact and body language. Maybe catch something deeper than the words being spoken.