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The Listening Poem - Anon

You are not listening to me when…
You do not care about me
You say you understand before you know me well enough
You have an answer for my problem before I’ve finished telling you what my problem is
You cut me off before I’ve finished speaking
You find me boring and don’t tell me
You feel critical of my grammar, vocabulary or accent
You are dying to tell me something
You tell me about your experience making mine seem unimportant
You are communicating with someone else in the room
You refuse my thanks by saying you haven’t really done anything

You ARE listening to me when…
You come quietly into my world and allow me to be me
You really try to understand me even when I am not making much sense
You grasp my point of view even when it goes against your own sincere convictions
You realise the time I have taken from you has left you a bit tired and a bit drained
You allow me the dignity of making my own decisions, even though you think they may be wrong
You don’t take my problem from me, but allow me to deal with it in my own way
You hold back your desire to give me good advice when you sense I am not ready for it
You give me enough room to discover for myself what is going on
You accept my gift of gratitude by saying how good it makes you feel to know that you’ve been helpful.

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honourably,

He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

When Someone has gone - Donna Ashworth

When someone has gone,

you can bring them back

for just a little while

by talking them into life

by painting a picture with your memories and your words

breathing their essence back into existence

for just a few moments.

When someone has gone

you can see them again

for a minute or two

by being all the things they once were

by allowing their best traits to filter through you

shaping your words, your thoughts and your deeds

back out into this world.

When someone has gone

you can feel them again

for just a moment

by playing their music

and singing their favourite songs

by giving yourself up to the notes that brought them alive

once upon a time, it will again.

When someone has gone

you can keep a part of them alive

by giving the love you had for them a forever place in your life

a forever seat at your table and a glorious chapter in your book.

Stories never die

tell them.