Are you a good listener?

I walked into our kitchen this week to a barrage of noise coming out of Dom’s phone. This is very unusual but the lure of politics with the upcoming “you know what” has grabbed our attention.

I say a barrage of noise because a journalist and politician were pretending to have a conversation, neither of them listening to each other. Both were on broadcast mode only concerned with their own point of view. It makes me wonder what’s the point if there is no listening?

Listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other. Not advice or how to do something better. Not our opinion or why they are wrong. Just listening to understand.

I noticed myself not listening the other day to my daughter Nell. By the time we had sat down at the dinner table, telling me about her day I had interrupted to correct, advise and question her a handful of times. Luckily, awareness kicked in and I shut up and started to just listen. I put myself in her shoes and thought how exhausting it must be to be directed like that all the time!

So I’m switching to listening mode as much as possible not just as a mother but hopefully as a wife, daughter, sister and friend. I know it won’t be easy but it’s important. How else will we grow understanding and empathy in our world if we don’t know how to truly listen?

I would love to hear if you are a good listener or if you have a good listener in your life and how it makes you feel.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of having someone’s full attention. :-)

Thank you for being here. Sending love and kindness,

Laura x