Life is Sailing

Cell phones. Oh, cell phones. I love that they keep us connected with family and friends. How convenient it is to pull up a video on how to fix a car issue or sail faster or parent better. For that moment of joy in our child’s face, we have a readily accessible, easily portable camera at our fingertips.

Then there are those times when I’m speaking with someone on the phone only to discover that they are going through their email while talking and “listening” to me. Or looking through pictures. Perhaps finding that helpful youtube video or catching up with posts on social media. Honestly, I am guilty of falling into this trap of “multi-tasking” as well.

Pardon me if it sounds too harsh, but shame on us. Shame on us for devaluing the person that is engaged talking with us. Have we forgotten that when people speak, they need us? There is a connection being sought. We as the listeners also need them. We need the practice in empathy, or clarity, or maybe we need to grow with our friend or family member in the challenging or funny issue they desire to share. If we give the appearance of listening, let’s commit and actually listen. And when we share, may we receive the same courtesy. No one wants to be ignored, trivialized, or put second to information.

So to those who embrace full listening, thank you! Thank you for taking the time and demonstrating the self-discipline to put the email and social media down, minimize the distractions, visualize the eyes of the speaker, and connect.

May we connect more.