Be Patient and Wait

I have noticed recently - well not really recently - over the course of the past several years, I have noticed that people in general don’t really listen to another person when the person talking is trying to make a point or explain or give directions.

I have on too many occasions, noticed that whomever I might be talking to; whether it be family, friend or a stranger in a store on the street, get “antsy”. He or she can’t wait for me to get to the end of my sentence before they start talking over me.

As I have said, I have noticed this behavior over the past several years and in recent times, it has become more noticeable. Now, I have to guess that the root cause of this behavior is do to our “times” of instant information. Still I can’t help but think - what happened to common courtesy? People don’t calm themselves down before giving another person (me) a chance to talk. I am the type of person who is a listener. I don’t usually make phone calls to friends and family unless there is something I need to know or explain. Texting is great for quick and to the point questions/answers but sometimes an actual phone call is required. That’s fine. The circle of people that I talk to know enough to give me a chance and let me finish and vice versa for me with them.

It’s the face to face conversations that I have with people I know and people that are strangers that gets to be tricky. The golden rule keeps popping up in my head; treat others as you would have them treat you. I do treat others in the way that I want to be treated. I rarely get the reverse.

I guess too many of us are under stress from many sources; work and/or home life. That’s too bad. People just need to learn or train themselves to sit down and “breathe”. Gather thoughts, mull over solutions and make decisions via tranquility.

I would like to encourage all of you, to take five, breathe and pray. Calm that spot in the center of your soul and be at peace, first before opening your mouth to talk or act (or react) in a situation or conversation.

In the words of Tiny Tim - May God bless us - everyone!

In the spirit of this Christmas Season - and yes - Christmas is a season (Dec 24 - Jan. 6^th - Epiphany) I’d like to wish for all of us - peace of heart, mind and soul. When you have a conversation with someone - be patient, listen and wait your turn.

God bless.

Unruley People

Last night, after my husband heard the window break in the master bathroom, we went outside to investigate. Well, we found - count them - 3 discarded dirty disposable diapers on the ground! That was the straw that broke my back. We had found 2 other diapers (1 diaper per incident) two other times. I picked up the three dirty (wrapped) diapers and walked over to the next door neighbor. (They don't speak English) I knocked on the door and no answer. Finally, as I was about to leave the diapers on the door step, two people (a man and a woman) came from across the street (out of another house). I waited. The woman didn't speak English and the man just disappeared. There were three men sitting in the driveway in the next house. We called one of them over. He wasn't too much help as his English was limited. He called another man over - at last - a bilingual man. Now maybe it's just me, but if it were me - and I was the only bilingual of my friends - I would have been the fist to go and see if I could help. Anyway - I wanted to explain; I don't have children, I don't have diapers, so whomever is doing this - must be told to stop. I'm a nice neighbor - I don't cause any trouble. The bilingual man agreed with me. He explained it to the woman. I thanked him for his help. I said gracias to him and to her (she took the dirty diapers and threw them in her trash can) and I returned home.

Maybe I expect too much when I expect "common decency" from people.