The tide is high in my mind this night as I stop to ponder the rhythms of life. Why does there exist such struggle between people? Do language, culture, beliefs or values create clashes or is it something more natural, more organic that generates friction? When you talk am I listening? Are we on the same wavelength? Is that manner of speaking metaphor or a literal variance in waves of thought?
Answers without questions. Questions with no audience. Being alone when in close proximity to a dozen people. Who understands? Who keeps in time with the pace I run? Why the disconnect in communication?
Ah, yes, written word. How splendid, how sublime to write in frenzy, to articulate the cascading thoughts to be sorted and straightened in methodical manner for others to receive. How much clearer the voice filtered by time, testing and revisited before the premiere of another post, this one slowed by the very nature of delivery in written form to the reader.
Have you ever found yourself in a conversation that seemed as if two radios blaring at each other with no audio input device? Strife in the work place, contention in the home, sparks between neighbors. We all face it in some form or fashion. How human, how profane this act of communication, this means for relation. Are we so advanced that we can write with eloquence our lofty thoughts yet stumble and muddle through the day with those by our side? Are we functionally blind, deaf and dumb in our ability to relate? Or do we run at a different rhythm and pace, on different strokes of time?
Perhaps there is a language of time we have yet to learn. Do we know our own rhythm and recognize our syncopated movements with others of kindred spirit? If we listen closely, does the sounds in our home, the conversations at work not resound with the rhythms of life? Are these not songs of laughter and ovations of a job well done?
What then becomes of our lives, day-to-day, as we run ever nearing to its conclusion? Did we learn the new language, hear the new rhymes, accents and inflections of this concerto of life? Or do we drone along and cover our ears when we hear some dissonance between singers, people voicing their part? Little may be perceived but the banter of souls wrestling with trivial thoughts. For those who hear the song of the heart and the vocals of the living, let’s learn, let’s listen and join the anthem.
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9 Comments
Wow… I want to read and reread this just for the beauty of the words!
You are an eloquent writer and one that speaks to my heart!
Actually, I do like reading for the message and thoughts as well… (smile)!
I have often wondered, if we didn’t develop language as we know it, if we wouldn’t have come up with something more clear… maybe we would find a way to read each other’s hearts, or resonate with thought vibrations, or identify smells as messages… (smile).
It is just that as we use language, we have the ability to fool others and ourselves, to portray the pretend.
And I wonder if this is why we don’t often listen? I think resonating with another is like a beautiful orchestra, or duet, it is not about being the same but harmonizing, listening to the other’s music, blending and sharing.
I love this post Phil… thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with the world!
Hugs,
jen
Very eloquently written indeed! Joining the anthem. Listening. Resonating. Cheers!
I’d take one of those pownce invites too!
Camille
Jen, Thanks for your reflections back on what I wrote. Actually, you had a part in the inspiration to this post in your recent one on depression, with your well stated point of looking at the bigger picture of our environment. If we were to look at the myriad of means to communication and listen for the rhythm of the one speaking, I wonder if we wouldn’t start to truly hear them. Perhaps when we become better listeners, we’d tap into the song within ourselves. This speaks to our passions and purpose, pulling deeper streams to the surface. If we tune our ears to hear the heart of people, then what sounds like dissonant noise, may become harmony between us.
Camille, Sweet music indeed. It’s a pleasure to be learning and hearing new things together.
Sending a Pownce your way.
Phil,
Thanks so much for this post! It encourages me to listen to the hearts and music of my children! May our days be filled with sweet music as we live our lives together.
Sabrina
Phil,
I am guilty of having difficulty listening to others at times, probably we all are. I try to remind myself that we are all more alike than we are different. Though the details may vary, though our experiences are unique, our emotions are not. Your post speaks to me on many levels Phil, and I am glad that you wrote it now, instead of later, because it is helpful to my thinking regarding issues and ideas that I am currently struggling with. Thank you for this.
Sabrina, I thought of you many times as I wrote this post. With one who I share my life with on so many levels, we have learned to enjoy and appreciate the different paces we run. If you ran as me I think our kiddos would get lost in the shuffle. What a wonderful life it is to have you to counter balance my often frenetic pace. I’m deeply grateful everyday for that blessing.
Dave, Communication is one of, if not the central most challenging struggle we all face. At least I find that to be true in my life. How often we are misunderstood or just don’t get what others are truly saying. How encouraging it is to me that this post speaks to where you are at in this very moment. I wonder if as we listen to the quiet voice within more thoughts come that are fully baked and timely, thoughts and ideas that truly impact folks. I feel that challenge everyday both online and off.
nice post!
Thanks notfearingchange. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for stopping by this corner of the ether.