Listen, process...then respond. Absorb the experience.

Hopefully you have been able to visit Grandma Julie’s blog. She inspired me to post some thoughts of mine: Two issues are covered here....one lead into the other. Hope I make some sense.

I feel great respect for most of the grey haired family I have and the elderly folks I meet. It has always been this way for me (thanks Mom & Dad). Certain coworkers and acquaintances of mine make me realize that the appreciation I feel for the more experienced generation is lost on them. This is true given that people are not living their lives consciously; probably one reason is because of the fast paced, high technology way we now live (and it’s hard to tell your boss to shut up and listen) or it is easier to just say what you want to say just to get your point across. It is a shame because listening to the voice of experience can benefit us all.

Specifically, many people including me make time to really communicate by actually listening. Listening, so that we can process what we hear and then speak only after having had time to absorb what was being said. Surprisingly some times NO response is necessary. I learned about the technical communication process in the 3 hour Speech 101 college course I took when I was 40 years old. I learned about living CONSCIOUSLY in 10 years of group therapy. It was a slow process...a very long AAH HAA moment.

Having taken the time to get the education on how to live a conscious life and how to actually listen and process in the mind what is being communicated before responding has provided an opportunity for this woman to know how to communicate. However, working, blogging, worshiping and playing with friends that do not take the time to actually communicate appropriately leads me back to the loathsome unconscious level of communication. My bad and no excuse but will work on improving always!

Being a youngster, actually a grey haired senior citizen, listening to the thoughts of more mature individuals is important. Learning to express the knowledge gained through life (without nagging) is a gift. Thankfully we have people like Grandma Julie that have the gift of expressing experiences. Hopefully we all will learn to listen. Life could be simpler.

Listen to your Mom!!!! Happy Mother's Day! Susan :)