They say well laid plans are essential for achieving goals.
I am quite sure there is truth in that statement , but I also think there are so many more crucial elements necessary for what I would like to call a "success cocktail."

I am learning through trial and well...failure...that motivation is the most important ingredient to making changes and or accomplishing anything. Plans mean nothing if you have no reason to follow them.

Speak Less...Say More

So, the kids are at camp this week, and what am I doing with all this extra "me" time? Surprisingly, not too much.
and I have been thinking... I have this blog...
But I never write in it...
I never write in it because the things that inspire me to speak the most
also inspire me to be silent...
There is never a shortage of talking in this world...everyone knows everything or
wants to be heard

Is anyone really listening? Listening these days... it is something polite people do... no seriously, some people do actually care and want to hear... I have to believe that...
But most... well...listening is something we really have to work at...
and by that I sadly mean... we work to look as though we are absorbing the depth of what is being said without showing hints of the notes our minds are making about our own rebuttals or bent , or even what we will be doing after we escape the conversation...
...now about these  listeners... us listeners... whether their (our) inner gears are visible or not, in the end,  the gut of the speaker will usually reveal if the message has been heard... and from the perception of the speaker will sprout various results depending on the determinations...
I mean, for example, if the speaker has determined that the listener was only a poser and that the content of their sleeved heart was not  truly digested or even given a second thought... then a weed of resentment could easily sprout
or a weed of self-deprecation
You know...it has happened to us all...we pour our soul out to someone about something that is important to us only to be interrupted or the subject changed...
it sends a loud message...
"were you speaking? Blah, blah, blah ...it's not about me so don't care...'anywho'..."

And then lots of us don't take it personally when we are not heard ... we just don't speak anymore
...we think deep thoughts... but we don't share

So how lovely it is when on rare occasions...
someone listens and really takes in the depth of our communication...
they don't give advice or fix anything maybe
...but we know they have heard us...
and within this safe harbor
...our human value is secure...

So... today I am promoting listening... really listening