listening

I Am Listening

I am here to listen.

All of my life, I have so deeply valued being heard. We live in a loud, busy world, and sometimes it feels like we can be shouting, with tears in our eyes, and still, nobody will be listening.

There is a difference between hearing and listening, and although we all know that on an intrinsic level, sometimes we still get confused. When someone tells us we aren’t listening, we may not understand how that’s possible. But we can hear without listening, and we can be present, without truly being there for someone.

For a long time, I did not understand the concept of holding space. I heard the term so many times, but I did not fully grasp its meaning. Right now, I get it. Holding space means making room within yourself, putting your understanding, your thoughts, your feelings aside, and holding space for the other person.

Even if what they are saying makes you feel bad, feel frustrated, feel confused.

Maybe you will never fully understand what they are saying, but they are simply asking you to be there, to listen, to open a space in your heart that says: “I care enough to listen to your feelings, even if we may never agree, even if we may never be the same. But I care about you, as a human, and a soul.”

I’ve hesitated to put my voice into the chaos.

For one, I don’t want to say the wrong thing. I don’t want to take away from the most important voices that need to be heard.

Second, our world is so full of people sharing their opinions right now, and I don’t want to be doing that either.

All I will say is that I believe in the power of love, the power of connection, and the power of being heard.

I’ve experienced the pain of not being heard, and I’ve experienced the joy of being heard, and I want to give that gift to others.

So, if you’re reading this, I’m asking you to hold space.

Hold space for someone that you may not understand.

Hold space for those who are in incredible pain right now, for those who feel like they are shouting with tears in their eyes, and are still not being heard.

Hold space for the black people in our lives, in our communities, in our world, who need to have their voice heard right now.

Whether or not you feel good when you hear what they are saying.

Because today, today is for listening.

Because only if we listen first, can we understand how to help and how to heal.

_______________________________________________________

Photo by Tatum Bergen on Unsplash

We Can Change
When a human
with a beating heart
and a crying soul
is falling apart,
We need change.
When a human
with tired eyes
and scarred arms
wants to die,
We need change. 
When their tears are dry
and their heart is hard,
When they’ve locked doors
and pulled up their guard,
We need change.
When their bellies ache,
but the ache is deep,
When they scream for help
but the world still sleeps,
We need change.

When the world awakens
and listens close,
When our eyes pull open
and see the hearts that broke,
We can change.
When we stretch out arms,
and give our ear,
When we ask questions
without feeling fear,
We can change.
When all have beating hearts,
and all can be whole,
When all have rested eyes
and a hopeful soul,
We’ll have changed.
When gates are opened,
and locked doors have a key,
When cries are heard,
and forests catch the tree,
We’ll have changed.
When blind eyes are opened,
and arms are thrown open wide,
When judging is shameful,
and love doesn’t hide…
We’ll have changed.
But until then, my friend,
We’ve got work to do,
so nobody can say
“If I only knew.”

Blog Post: 34/52.

Featured Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash