I Love to Listen Day
Today is “I Love to Listen Day.”
This is a day when you honor the people in your life by listening actively to them.
Here are 5 suggested activities you can do today. You will find more at the I Love to Listen website:
- Stop what you are doing and listen to someone.
- Organize a party and play listening games.
- Send a card / letter / email thanking someone who listened to you.
- Start a family tradition of “Listening Time.”
- Develop your personal definition of listening.
Make this is great day for someone else!
You’ll be glad you did.
Can you add another listening activity?
Not interrupting the person as they speak.
Not coming up with an answer before they’ve finished speaking.
Taking a breathe before you speak!
Excellent suggestions, Tamsin. I especially like the last one. It reminds me of counting from 1 to 10 before answering, when angry.
The poem is originally in Italian and can be found here: http://www.puglia.lafragola.kataweb.it/bari/superiori/lenoci-japigia/story507457.html
It is attributed to V A Mercurio.
Also, thank you for posting it. It’s a beautiful piece and spoke well to me.
Thanks for letting us know the author of this beautiful poem.
One thing that I can do is Actively Listen. For example, when I’m at work and a co-worker stops by my desk to speak to me, sometimes I continue working, instead of taking the time to stop what I’m doing and actively engage them by giving them my undivided attention. That’s important. It tells them that they’re important too.
Great post. Thanks for Sharing.
David
I’m glad you thought of that, David. I do that kind of abstracted listening also. I will certainly join you in actively listening today.
Good poem!
I’m glad you like it. This is one of my favorite poems about listening.
Another favorite is the poem that begins with:
When I ask you to listen to me
And you start giving me advice,
You have not done what I’ve asked…
What a beautiful poem!
We should always let others say what they have to!
Yes, Sophie, we should. I’m still learning to consistently do that.
This is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Brief but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one.
A must read article!