Sunday Reminder

I have a year of daily blogging under my belt, so I'm implementing a few changes. One of those changes will be "Sunday Reminders".

I'll use Sunday mornings as a chance to reflect on my reflections. (You read that correctly.) I'll share with you the fruits of this exercise by reaching back into the blog archive and resurrecting some ol' favorites.

Each week I'll find an older post related to the week's theme, polish it up, and re-share it.

Here's today's "Sunday Reminder" from July 27, 2019:

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First, Listen

Not in the same way you listen to podcasts on your morning commute.

Not in the way you listen to music while you’re in your shop or at the gym or on a walk.

Not in the way you hear your kid request yet another cookie.

Not in the way that you listen to an argument, already preparing your retort.

But deep, patient listening.
Listening to gather the way things truly are.
Listening for the soul of a thing, a person, a moment, a challenge to be revealed.*

If we listen in this way first, the creative way forward will always come.

This is true in writing.
In resolving conflict.
In personal growth.

First, listen. Deeply.

*H/T to Luther Matsen for teaching me this.