Listen to What I'm Saying

Don't you just hate it when you say something over, and over, and over, and over, and still find that no one has heard anything you've said? I think it's one of the worst common traits found over a majority of people on this planet, including me.  I'd like to say that I always comprehend, consider and understand what everyone tells me, but I don't.  I only hope that a majority of the time, I do.

Here is a case in point:  Those of you who know me, follow my blog, work with me on various projects, sit next to me at church or is a part of my writer's club understands that (or at least you should) I've decided to become a full-time writer.  I've said as much at least two dozen different ways. I've tried to make it plain that this isn't my "hobby", something I've decided to do in my "spare time", or something that's just a passing phase because I want to see my name on the cover of a book.  I closed my business, sacrificed my material possessions, re-arranged my life and priorities to accommodate my decision and choose to walk every day among the uncertain to make it happen.  Yet, it never fails that at least once a week I come across someone in one of my various circles who asks me what I'm going to do for employment, or if I could help them do something since I'm not working anymore and have all this available time, or if I have thought about what I'm going to do next.  I feel like responding with a sarcastic remark in Bill Engvall fashion, followed by the phrase - "Here's your sign!"

I understand that most people's world revolves around themselves; I'm the center of my own universe too.  However, just plain out ignoring EVERYTHING someone's said for the past couple of years is really pushing the edge of being extremely rude and condescending.  It makes me think - "Wow, this person thinks about me for almost a millisecond, which is a few milliseconds too little to actually learn anything."  Why do they choose to waste their breath asking me the same ole' dumb questions?  They'd save a whole minute of their life just walking on by without saying anything.  I don't even need a smile, a wave or a nod.

Being on the receiving end of such blatant disregard, has made me think about my own actions.  So, this morning I say, "I'm sorry".  I apologize to all those I have not paid attention or listened to what you've had to say.  I can't promise that I'll always hear you, but I can promise I'll try. 

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray