11 Comments
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Victoria K. Walker's avatar

A great post, Leslie. And thank you so much for the Beyond Bloomsbury mention and link 🩵

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

Your post is still saved and utilized whenever I feel a need to step out of reality and take a break. I loved the premise of the collection your readers provided and this post that preserved it.

Victoria K. Walker's avatar

Thank you, Leslie! It was so great to see reader choices.

Claire's avatar

Great insights Leslie. The vast majority of people, myself included, need to improve our listening skills. I think our instinct of being in a hurry is a huge factor. Listening takes time, and we feel like we need to move the conversation along, to get to our turn.

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

Good morning, Claire! thanks for adding to the conversation. I have begun to think of listening as a practice of presence and attention—whether I’m listening to people or the world around me. There is the hurry and bustle, but I can also easily get lost in my own thoughts.

Paulette Bodeman's avatar

In this world of angry sound bites and reactionary pushback, we need to sharpen our listening skills. Thank you, Leslie, for such great suggestions.

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

Thanks so much, Paulette. I’m glad it resonated with you. Concentrating on listening helps me slow down my ‘reacting’.

Cathy Joseph's avatar

Listening to understand, without judgment, is transformative - for both the person speaking and the person listening. I loved this post, Leslie!

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

I love the word you bestow upon these moments. Transformative. I think that is a perfect and magical way to describe the experience. thank you Cathy.

Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

May we listen for

the place, time to speak our lines.

The call of our names.

...

May wise words flow forth

from silence, from frank feeling.

From deep listening.

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

Marisol, you never cease to amaze me with your sensitivity to the heart of what you read. Thank you for this beautiful response.