Shhhh!

There are some moments where the best thing to say is nothing. This is harder for some than it is for others - and even harder for someone who tries to provide a new blog entry every day. Yet, words are limited and the search for the perfect answer can lead to silence.

I've noticed lately how often I find myself interrupting others, as though whatever I want to say is more important than what they share. Often I talk about whatever I want to tell and then find myself saying "And how about you?" just before I leave or before I end the call. What new things could I have learned or what burdens could I have shared if I had just listened?

Larry Hagman, the actor who played JR in Dallas, had a habit of taking one day each week and remaining silent for the whole day. I imagine that such a regimen made his speech more deliberate and thoughtful during the rest of the week. For me, I just want to learn to be quiet during a conversation or two and just listen. Listening can say so much more than talking.