Listening.

Thank you to Jenny Baker:

I am listening to you, honestly.

But I'm also thinking about what I'm going to say next.

I hate embarrassed gaps in conversation when no one knows what to say.

I want you to think that I'm interesting, funny, witty.

So I'm lining up my response, getting it ready.

I am listening to you, honestly.

But I hope you don't go on too long.

I want to catch the final scores, to find out how my team has done.

And I need to ring my friend before he goes out for the evening.

Then Desperate Housewives is on TV, and I don't want to miss that.

So make it quick, and you don't need to repeat yourself.

I am listening to you, honestly.

But I'm also thinking about what happened at work this week -

And what I've got to do next week -

I'm going to be in trouble if I don't get that report written,

And I need to work out why my colleague isn't talking to me.

So it's quite hard to hear what you're saying

Over all this internal noise.

I am listening to you, honestly.

But that group over there looks like they're having a much better conversation;

They're laughing and joking.

I'd really like to get to know some of them -

Not that you're not important - of course you are;

I just wish I had the chance to speak to them, too.

I am listening to you, honestly.

But to be honest, I really wish you'd listen to me -

Just for once - to pay attention to what I have to say,

Without jumping in with your experience and your solutions.

I don't want you to solve my problems;

I just want you to hear me:

To hear the 'me' behind the words;

To really listen.