Be Still

I have spent the last month tuning into this engaging series called “When Calls the Heart.” An adventurous character travels to a new town in hopes of forging a new path. So intriguing. The main character is a school teacher who leaves her fancy home to journey to a small town to change the world. This is Canada, around 1910. There is no technology, just buggies, chalkboards and well water. Without all of the modern day trappings, the community does something that we don’t often see nowadays — they talk to each other. Quite attentively. They spend hours cooking and communicating. They all gather for dinner and then talk some more. No one has a cell phone. There definitely isn’t a television around anywhere. They are left to simply enjoy each other’s company. They gain empathy, they share stories. There is a sense of togetherness. So much laughter and so many memories. The good ole days. We may need to bring back some of those traditions. I can’t remember the last time my family all sat around the dining room table, shared our day and laughed at some of my amazing jokes. It’s been awhile. For quite some time, I have been focusing on improving my active listening skills. I’m an observer and I noticed that we don’t always listen to each other as we should. We are multitasking, which to me simply means attempting to do several things at once poorly while often ignoring someone. What if we paused and listened attentively? Imagine what that would mean to the receiver. Imagine how important and respected they would feel. It’s something that I am really passionate about and I’m trying to get better at it. I want to listen without forming a rebuttal, or a flippant response trying to prove that I know more than the other person. I’m a work in progress. I have discovered that the person I’m talking to doesn’t always want a solution, often they just want to be heard.

I want to take time like the main character on that television show does. She listens to her students. She empathizes with her friends and family members. They play board games together. They discuss books. They plan adventures. Of course she later finds the love of her life and I won’t tell you what happens next; but just know that the show is on the Hallmark channel so the plot diagram is no mystery. With limited distractions, the community becomes more of a family. We don’t have to always be busy, some of that is a choice. With less interruptions the main character has time to think and process her thoughts. She sits by rivers and contemplates decisions. I sit by my television and watch Law and Order SVU reruns. I could easily turn that off and take some time to meditate or reflect. I could use that time to reach out to a friend or family member. What I could really do is provide someone with the gift of attentiveness. It’s such a wonderful gift to give.