Still Yourself and Hear the World
Yesterday morning, when I got to my computer, I could hear the rain outside.
I stopped to listen. I could hear the white noise around the air moving.
The sound was soothing, clear, and refreshing.
Outside and below, cars were rushing toward the city.
It was a whooshing sound of tires on the pavement. I didn’t have to look to know it.
In the kitchen, the coffeemaker began telling me that it was working.
I listened, then, to the quiet hummmmmm of the air conditioning.
I settled back in my desk chair just to listen.
Quiet, silence filled with sounds I don’t usually hear.
Raindrops sliding down a window, my heart beating, my eye blinking as I look at the harbor.

And last night a fabulous thunderstorm returned me to that peaceful, listening feeling.
What if we listened to each other like we listen to the rain?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Would be nice, but much like the rain, we ignore each other. Only the smart ones listen…
Ah, to listen with our heart, not just our ears…
Lovely post, Liz! Thank you for sharing!
Very poetic. I’m a big fan of poetry, so this made me feel all soft.
If we listened to others like they were rain this world would be a more gentle place.
As a life member and a past president of the International Listening Association (http://www.listen.org), I was delighted to read your blog post this morning. Great start to my day!
Hi Elaine!
Maybe we just need to remember. 🙂
Hi Marti!
Our hearts listen in an entirely different way. Yeah.
Hi Karl!
Listening to the rain, does soften us some. 🙂
Hi Barbara!
Thank you. Great to know about listen.org
Interesting post.
I wrote a short article a while ago that corresponds to this one.
http://punintended.com/blog/an-unexpected-teacher/
Cheers.
Listen to the rain, the brain, the stopping of the train, a trip down memory lane, a moment to regain the sane … all for listening to the rain.
Lori
Hi Bamboo,
Thanks for the wonderful link. I can see why you brought it!
Lori,
Your comment made me smile. 🙂