Life has a way of teaching us different lessons. At the same time, one of the unforgettable experiences that actually made me who I am today was on a random Tuesday afternoon.
I was just in the shop, trying to solve my college assignments and also taking on a part-time job. I was feeling like I was carrying a burden on my shoulder. That day I was very stressed, so I was just going to my phone checking out the updates online barely noticing what was happening.
From nowhere an older man I don’t know, maybe he was in his 50s or 60s, sat on the table next to me. He was looking tired but had these calm vibes, like someone who knows what he’s doing. I didn’t think much until he decided to strike up a conversation. At first I was so annoyed, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts and myself.
We started talking about how he started telling me the story about his life, how he lost his job, how he started to work for his family, and how he was able to find a way to some kindness from strangers. At that moment I didn’t want to say much, so I was just listening like a newborn baby.
And you know what, just that simple act of listening to that old man speaking changed my perspective of life at that moment. He wasn’t looking for advice or pity or for help, it’s just he needs someone to hear him out and hear his life story.
So by the end of his touching story, he thanked me, we smiled together, we chatted and left. I realized that I didn’t say a word while he was speaking. But somehow, it made a difference. And that moment also taught me the power of listening. Not the one you listen without concentration or half-hearted one while you’re waiting for your turn to talk. The one you really hear in someone. It’s just like a skill I didn’t learn in school. And it’s something you can practice.
What I learned that day is that from that stranger I spoke with, he didn’t even remember me. It was hard to listen. And since then, I’ve made it a very strong point to listen more. To a little friends, to teachers, to family, and even other people I met. It’s incredible how much you learn from others when they share their story.
So this lesson has also changed my life in ways I’ve never, ever, ever imagined. I’ve learned how to build stronger friendships. And I’ve stopped trying to be the solution to everyone’s problems and just hear them at, even at work. I’ve become the person people chose to share their worries and pains and ideas.
That is why listening has made me more patient. More empathetic. And even more happier. And more. And it has exposed me to new experiences and lessons in life. Even without me experiencing such things. It’s a small world. And listening is just an easy thing to do.
So next time someone starts talking to you, don’t act like you’re not interested. Give them your listening ear. Look them in the eye. And show them that you’re really listening. You might just learn something from them that might stay with you forever.
Tagging @debbyfranker and @bornblessed to join this prompt