Listen and silent are two words with a big connection in my life. Besides being an anagram….same letters, but different order…the connection between these two words goes deeper.
Living in the DC metro area can be a blessing and a curse all at the same time. This past weekend was no exception. There was an exchange of power…riots…a peaceful protest. Yet amongst many there was and still is amounts of anger, fear, and confusion. Friendships ended. Families broken.
This isn’t about who won the election or who didn’t, but more about the the millions of people now in a state of hurt, confusion, or anger over things that have been voiced. This weekend, bricks were thrown, garbage cans were lit on fire, and thousands of people protested.
How do we begin to build understanding and tolerance….to really hear messages and where someone else is coming from? Being silent can be a huge source of power. This is not saying using silence as a form of ignoring, non-expression, or punishment. However, if you are thoughtfully silent, you can reach the truth or the real message as you are truly listening.
I think of my own relationships. When there have been disagreement and each is trying to argue the point, no one is listening. Time is wasted. Anger grows. Each is trying to get in the “last word”. Defensiveness jumps in. Voices raise. What if something new was tried? What if each would stop for a moment and be thoughtfully silent and truly listen. My guess…things would be solved a lot sooner because there would be understanding (even if there isn’t total agreement).
Not say this simplistic idea would solve all the world’s problems….but a little might go a long way…and where better to start than home!
Back to funny business tomorrow!
Life in Snippets 