Everyone Has a Story
I have always been interested in people and love to hear about their life. I believe everyone has a story.
My husband, Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected, has been so patient with me through the years as I pause to talk to complete strangers at times and often find out they have some interesting things to share.
I believe this love for a story started in my high school days in a small town in northern Michigan when I signed up for a journalism class and was on the school newspaper staff. My articles were under the heading "The Shadow Box" and it was the society page of the paper. I might have seen myself as a future Ann Landers or Abigail Van Buren writing articles for the lovelorn!
When we were raising our daughters we had a rule in our home, "If you can't say something nice then don't say anything." So when they found out my humble beginning as a writer was the school newspapers' society page (gossip column) they were shocked. I believe there are some things about our past that we shouldn't tell our children and that was probably one of them!
I am also a total people watcher and when we go out to dinner I will observe different people in the restaurant and tell my husband what I think is going on with them. Just this week we ate breakfast out and I saw the saddest scene. I assume it was a grandfather and grandson. The grandfather was quite elderly and eating breakfast very slowly and the younger man with him only had a cup of coffee and instead of talking to the elderly gentlemen he picked up a newspaper and held it up before him and blocked out the view of the older man. I never saw him talking to him at all. That made me want to go over and take that newspaper out of the young man's hand and tell him to interact with the older man. I left there praying for them.
I observed a couple having lunch one day and they both ordered their meal and then the lady opened her purse and brought out a book and began to read and never spoke to the man through the whole meal and he never spoke to her. How sad! Once again I left that restaurant and prayed for their marriage.
Probably where I hear people's stories the most is in grocery lines, beauty salons, and ladies restrooms. My husband is shocked that women talk so much in a public restroom. He said he thinks I have this sign on my forehead that says, "tell me your story." Often it starts out with comments about how we like each others purse, shoes, outfit, or hairstyle. Then before you know it they are telling me what they are going through. I have prayed for many ladies while in public places who just needed to know someone cares.
I like this saying, "people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
It has been said that we were given two ears and one mouth and that is because we are to listen twice as much as we talk. I encourage you to take the time to listen to someone else and not do all the talking. People want to tell their story and I believe those of us who will take the time to listen will be enriched and blessed.
I believe this love for a story started in my high school days in a small town in northern Michigan when I signed up for a journalism class and was on the school newspaper staff. My articles were under the heading "The Shadow Box" and it was the society page of the paper. I might have seen myself as a future Ann Landers or Abigail Van Buren writing articles for the lovelorn!
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| I am in the white blouse sitting at the typewriter |
When we were raising our daughters we had a rule in our home, "If you can't say something nice then don't say anything." So when they found out my humble beginning as a writer was the school newspapers' society page (gossip column) they were shocked. I believe there are some things about our past that we shouldn't tell our children and that was probably one of them!
I am also a total people watcher and when we go out to dinner I will observe different people in the restaurant and tell my husband what I think is going on with them. Just this week we ate breakfast out and I saw the saddest scene. I assume it was a grandfather and grandson. The grandfather was quite elderly and eating breakfast very slowly and the younger man with him only had a cup of coffee and instead of talking to the elderly gentlemen he picked up a newspaper and held it up before him and blocked out the view of the older man. I never saw him talking to him at all. That made me want to go over and take that newspaper out of the young man's hand and tell him to interact with the older man. I left there praying for them.
I observed a couple having lunch one day and they both ordered their meal and then the lady opened her purse and brought out a book and began to read and never spoke to the man through the whole meal and he never spoke to her. How sad! Once again I left that restaurant and prayed for their marriage.
Probably where I hear people's stories the most is in grocery lines, beauty salons, and ladies restrooms. My husband is shocked that women talk so much in a public restroom. He said he thinks I have this sign on my forehead that says, "tell me your story." Often it starts out with comments about how we like each others purse, shoes, outfit, or hairstyle. Then before you know it they are telling me what they are going through. I have prayed for many ladies while in public places who just needed to know someone cares.
I like this saying, "people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
It has been said that we were given two ears and one mouth and that is because we are to listen twice as much as we talk. I encourage you to take the time to listen to someone else and not do all the talking. People want to tell their story and I believe those of us who will take the time to listen will be enriched and blessed.
I agree. Everyone has a story that should be heard by an "attentive" listener. I constantly work on my listening skill. Thank God for His Grace which helps us.
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