SELF-DISCOVERY

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961)



I have a big mouth.

I talk too much. I've always suspected it. Sometimes felt self-conscious about it. Now have proof that it's true. I am surpriesd I have any friends. Hell, I am surprised I am married.

I bought a little handheld voice recorder for interviews. My job is to ask the questions. That's it. But I find it is downright PAINFUL to listen to the recorded interviews (when transcripting to paper). I am sick of hearing my own voice. Worse yet, I bet the interviewee is sick of hearing my voice. YIKES. And I say 'Oh, Yeah' a lot. Not really valley girl, but more like that lady cop voice from the movie 'Fargo'. All nasely and uber-Canadian.



When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961)



I am going to go out on a limb and say it verges on annoying. (Fight the urge to reassure me that it isn't true, people)

We've all had the experience. Participating in a conversation with one person or a small group of people, where one person dominates the conversation. You know... The super loud, over bearing, highly opinionated, self-righteous meathead you fanticize about saying 'shut up' to...

It's me. (*sniff)

Definition of Self-discovery: The act or process of achieving understanding or knowledge of oneself. The problem with self-discovery is that it is one of those things that is only useful if you plan on using the new knowledge constructively.

Example:
I talk too much.
I will try to talk less.
I won't speak out of turn (HA.
I will voice my opinion only when asked. (Yeah, right.)
I will become a someone who is seen and not heard. AAAAAAAAAHHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA
(You have to know me to appreciate that roaring laughter fully



Listen. Do not have an opinion while you listen because frankly, your opinion doesn't hold much water outside of Your Universe. Just listen. Listen until their brain has been twisted like a dripping towel and what they have to say is all over the floor. Hugh Elliott, Standing Room Only weblog, 02-14-2003



I remember being a young girl, maybe 8 or 9, and visiting with my Great Gramma Mimi. We'd go to visit her and I'd hang on the arms of her big blue easy chair and talk with her. She had the puffiest little old lady feet, and carried her black heavy purse, that had a brass clasp, everywhere (even while sitting in the living room). And I can remember the way she smelled. A good, powdery Gramma smell. She used the milky pink face powder in the little brown compact.

Anyways, she told me this story about when I was born. She told me that I was one of the very few brand new babies that her husband, my Great Grandpa Willard, had ever seen. She said that after he saw me, only hours old (maybe a few days) he told her, "one day you're gonna hear from that girl." I don't remember ever knowing him, he died after I turned one.

That's the whole story I remember. I didn't even know what he meant. Maybe I just cried a lot! I just remember thinking that I had a reputation to live up to. Funny that I would be able to associate the story to the self-discovery. Amazing how little things shape who we become.

I have always remembered that. And I remember thinking that it meant he could see something in me that I couldn't. But you have to know the direction my life has gone. I've always been completely satisfied to be in the public eye. I am an entertainer by nature. I will say just about anything for a laugh. I am a singer. Now I write. And share my opinions with others. Could it be more appropos?

I am committed to talking less, and listening more.



A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.
Wilson Mizner (1876 - 1933)



My husband is going to laugh his ASS off when he reads this.