It is this one thing tha struck me when I was at a dinner, I was in between one 3 1/2 year old & a 78-year-old. I MUST listen. If I don’t listen to the 3 1/2 year old, she will soon scream or God knows what she will do & if I don’t listen to the 78-year-old, I will feel bad morally for being so disrespectful & ‘kurang ajar’.
It was not something I thought I will have to ‘do’ at my age. I always thought by the time I am older, I have the freedom to ‘shut’ out or walk away from people I don’t feel like listening to. Well, I can’t be more wrong.
About 15 years ago, at work, one my manager reminded me to listen because I wouldn’t listen to what she was trying to tell me since I guess I was young & feeling ‘very smart’ , I guess. To be clear- I am thankful for her reminder. It is a very important skill that a lot of people lack.
For me, I feel it is just ironic that one would think that as one gets middle age, you will get the chance to choose who you want to listen to but the fact is you can’t. I can’t (& shouldn’t) stop the 3 1/2 year old from talking because she is practicing her communication skills & I can’t stop the 78-year-old from sharing his stories because that’s what old people do, I guess. So what can I do but listen & be interested right?
Maybe this is just that cycle of life. Maybe by me listening, my daughter may one day listen to me rant on & on about my life stories at 78 without complaining to me that it is boring. Well, she better be ! Cos her 3 1/2 year old stories are also really boring but I listened (& even gave appropriate responses!)
musings manic 