Have you ever really stopped to listen? Sometimes I wonder if everyone only hears what they want to hear. Honestly, I think it takes lots of patience and training to become a good listener. But then again, what is a good listener? Someone who will sit and stare intently at your face as you talk about who knows what...ocassionally interjecting a "mmm" or "yeah" to make it seem like they are really engaged?

Gaaaaah. Sometimes I get so frustrated. Not only with other people, about 99% who don't care about a thing I have to say. And with myself, because I believe they don't care. So I don't talk. I don't say what is on my mind. And then I get mad at others for not listening. It's just the recurring circle.

I am writing this as I listen to a friend talking on the phone...

So I used to think I was a good listener but I realized that just listening to people talk might not be good listening skills. I am so used to listening to other people talk that I've gotten to the point where I can listen to other people for hours and still do other things like write a blog post or watch TV. Usually I don't, but there is a difference between having a conversation with someone and just listening to them blabber on. I am always willing to listen no matter what but I guess I'm just too good a listener. Listen while I clean, listen while I cook, listen while I do homework, listen while I surf the web. I love listening but it seems I do so much of it that I have to do other stuff at the same time.