Truly Listening

This will just be a short post tonight, as I just got back from an Election Gala that was being held in the hotel, that we attended (OK, crashed might be a better description of our involvement)....which by the way, was very exciting and moving. The passion people exude (about anything, really) gives me the shivers and moves me to emotion.  It was one of those nights - cheering, shouting, clapping...electric. We may have had a few beers - meeting the emotional tone of the room and all! Anyway, I'm exhausted - it's been an emotional day. Learning, reflecting, listening, sharing, feeling....it's a lot of work! 

Today we talked about the importance and the practice of active listening and attending to what people are saying.  Much of the details aside, we learnt and practiced these skills.  Even though I knew that my partners were practicing skills associated with attentive, active and engaged listening and counselling, it sure felt good to be listened to!  And, I mean really listened to - where it wasn't only about the content - but heard the emotion and deeper meaning. That in and of itself is healing. 

David Oxberg said, "Being listened to, is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference.

It's that simple, and that challenging. 

Namaste,

Sandy