Story Life

Stories arrive in our lives in a variety of ways and from multiple sources. People seem ever to want to reveal pieces of themselves. We have different manners of response. Most of the time, we listen to the stories of others with our minds only half present. Our thoughts wander to responses we can give. Occasionally allowing them to formulate our own stories that are close or tangential for when it's our turn to speak.

We've forgotten how to be present, how to listen to one another. Our culture and our society have increased their speed significantly. We have no time. Or we believe that we don't. We believe in the myth of multitasking. We have checklists inside our heads that we inspect and need to complete. We've forgotten the importance and significance of others' stories. We've misplaced our priorities along with the value of interconnection that happens when we truly listen and honor each other's story.

If you don't believe me, check out how many people are writing their memoirs ~ at 25 or 30 years of age! Listen to the people around you who want to 'write a book' with their stories in it ~ whether a teaching/experiential book or another memoir. Each of us has a desire to be heard. Listen to the next person who starts relating his or her story to you. Ask questions that lead her or him to tell you more. Put aside your active mental wanderings that bring the story back to you. See what happens.

Who listens to your stories? What do you do when you don't feel that your stories are heard? How does listening to others help you? How can you honor the story of another person?