"It is not the same on television. You need to be there to get the feeling inside"
This is the beautiful advice of an older lady in a radio vox pop remarking on the Queen's funeral
Vox pop.
I'm this case, 17 words chosen to represent the voice of the people.
Listen to them
Listen to us
Listen to the words
They are telling you what life is.
Of course, you have to be able to bear feeling it in order to invite it in.
So do it in your own way.
Bit by bit.
When you do talk though, please give someone your eyes.
Don't just greedily take their stories.
Leave your phone in your pocket, or at least have the decency to apologise should you have a valid reason to briefly reach for it. Your first born child may be stranded in the city centre with some thugs who know karate for example, or maybe your illustrator is rescheduling your sleeve tattoo. Or.....no, that's it.
These are the two valid reasons.
And then breathe in deeply, smile, give your love and energy and listen.
Just listen.
You won't know what your friend needs until you do.
No comments:
Post a Comment