The art of listening

The art of listening can be so selfish, it’s not only for you, it’s for me.

I love the art of listening because the person you talk to thinks they’re just speaking.

But they’re spilling their guts.

Painting the picture and providing details so my mind can run even wilder.

They’re spilling their tea and I soak it in better than the towel they use to dry their hair.

Each sentence, even if innocent, is a confession of what they think I can hold or what they need to get off their chest and I don’t take it lightly.

They think they’re just speaking.

But I’m watching the words fall from their lips and make their way to me like the words they speak were meant for no other.

I try not to be greedy but, please talk more.

Let me watch the light reach your eyes and see the blush on your cheeks. Let me see the way your eyes well up and be the one to catch the tear on your cheeks. You can literally tell me about the process you followed to select the perfect paint for your wall. Do I know anything about painting? No, not really. But you’re giving me the opportunity to learn from you and I will so readily take it. Tell me about your writing, your hobbies, your hyper fixation, your collections, anything. Tell me about the new game you’re playing, or the new book you’ve read, or this concept you’ve heard about that you want to dive deeper into. Tell me about how research in whales is identifying protein that can help with DNA mutations and help reduce the chances of cancer. Dear god, talk nerdy to me.

Let me be so greedy and tell me about it the darkness you hold, have held, and all the hells you’ve been through. I want to know and I want to listen. Let me hold your hand while you walk me through it. Tell me about it all, without holding back.

And if I hear you say “I’ve never told anyone this but” only fuels my selfishness. You mean I get to have the story to add to my collection and it’s only for me? How close to my heart do you think that will be held? You felt safe enough to divulge that to me? Don’t make me blush.

See the art of listening is exactly that.

Art.

You have to appreciate the picture painted, the story told, the perception sculpted. All of it. Let me be selfish.

Be my muse.

You can perform the art of speaking and I’ll show you the art of listening.