Have You Ever Thought?
Have you ever thought that one day, everybody dies?
I mean, you don’t live like it. Hell, I don’t either. But seriously, think of those closest to you.
When’s the last time you said how much they mean to you?
When’s the last time, you’ve given them your full attention; pulling it from wandering thoughts, a notification on your phone or a more interesting person?
It’s been awhile hasn’t it?
I wonder if we ever really give more than 60% of our attention to someone. Even someone we enjoy listening to.
Attention is a fickle thing. Some have the ability to capture it and grip it tight, unyielding to the purple elephants that walk through the back of the auditorium during your 4th grade concert.
Some can barely hold a conversation without new thoughts swarming their minds and taking control of their tongues, twisting them up into a casserole of half baked thoughts.
The majority of people are somewhere in the middle. At least, that’s where they’d like to say they are. Probably where you’d put yourself. Not able to degrade yourself to acknowledging your ability to spew nonsense when your brain is split between Netflix and your Aunt Beverly. But you’re not so high and mighty that you’d say you never slip up or fail.
In reality, we all have the potential to listen. To carefully consider what each person we come into contact says. What we do instead is usually the opposite. Our attention is seen as precious as pirate medallions. We are unwilling to part with it unless we know we are giving it to the correct person, someone who will cherish it and appreciate it.
Perhaps that’s why so little people listen. It’s not worth the effort. The speakers won’t care. They just talk for the sake of it.
It’s the people who don’t speak that ought to be listened to most. Give them your gold, they won’t spend it quickly.
