"The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent."
Alfred Brendel-classical pianist

Are you  good listener?  I think I am.  Maybe because as I was growing up, I was taught to be quiet while adults talked.  My Mom always had to have the last word and lots in between.  I know I did not talk while adults were talking or I might get a pat on my heini.  Usually you knew to keep quiet unless you were asked a question.  I was a shy child and an even shyer adult until somewhere around 40, when I began to come out of my shell.  I know a lot of people who have known me the last 10 or 20 years probably would never believe that.  If he hadn't lived it, I don't think hubby would have either.

I've known people who never listen to what you are saying.  They are busy thinking what they want to say next.  So they never respond to what you have said and miss the point of most conversations.  I know I did this for awhile.  A quote about this made me stop and think.  I became a much better listener; being silent when the other person was speaking; concentrating on their words and their facial movements. 

In my older years, I have also learned to think before I speak.  That saves a lot of misunderstood conversations and hurt for the listener.  When I am talking to someone, I want their attention.  I want them to look at my face, make eye contact, and show they are there and not a million miles away.  That is where I am now.  I listen with my whole being; think about it; and make a comment if necessary.  Those are hard lessons to learn but worth it.  Nothing like a wonderful conversation with give and take.  Some of life's lessons are best learned that way.

I've been looking at some of the quotes I have stashed around the computer waiting to be used for something.  I was hoping it would jog my mind into writing a post.

Unfortunately, there were too many choices.  So I'll just go eeny, meeney, moe and pick one.

I've written before about smiles and smiling.  Let's consider this quote by Mother Teresa:
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to the person, a beautiful thing."

I love smiling at people.  For me it is an act of love.  I give a little bit of myself, as a gift, to people.  It pays off sometime with a smile in return.  And sometimes it seems to make the other person more sad or mad or something negative.

I can't say I have not been one of those people, frowning and glowering at people as I walked past.  I used to think I had all kinds of problems and that people didn't like me.  I suffered from such a lack of confidence for the first 35 to 40 years of my life.  I drank too much to give myself that feeling of being more likeable.  I realized eventually that it didn't.  In fact, it made me a lot less likeable.  That's when I began to wake-up and get with the smile program.  

I feel sorry for people who don't smile.  It takes such little effort and it makes you feel so good.  They might see it takes away some of the sadness or madness that they are feeling.  I always rejoice inwardly when someone smiles back.  I've seen people coming towards me who at the last minute smile.  I know I've struck a nerve and I hope it gives them a better day.

One of the nurses at the cancer center calls me sunshine.  I asked her why.  She said because you are always smiling no matter what.

So smile.  Give it your best and make someone call you sunshine.

Recently we drove to Miramar Beach to attend our youngest grandson's wedding.  Long drive for us old folks.  And I admit I was nervous about meeting the bride's family.  The bride, Jennifer, is an absolute sweetheart.  She and Bryan just belong together.  Her family was warm and welcoming.  The wedding was great.  They made sure we had a place to park in front of the house and a place I could sit and enjoy the wedding.

However, I didn't really intend to write about the wedding.  I kept thinking about the drive.  All on the interstate.  On the way up, I was nervous and did not notice very much.  On the way back, I began to notice the countryside.

From the time we got on Interstate 10 until we hit Tallahassee, the countryside was brown.  The pines and oaks were still in green coats.  But the summer grasses and wildflowers were a sea of brown.  With lots of leafless trees.

In Tallahassee the DOT had sown winter rye on all the embankments and medians.  It was a lovely lime green and tall enough to actually wave in the breeze.  Then it turned to a lighter shade of green.  As we traveled further east, I began to see more green trees.  The grasses were still brown of course.  The Florida Maples looked like they were covered with a light pink halo.

Further along the highway those maples begin to show more color.  There are a lot of tree farms along that area with pine trees in just about every size.  Some only a few feet tall to others that were many feet tall.

When we turned onto Interstate 75, things were greener still.  Leafless trees had that greenish tinge that shows up before the leaves.  And the maples were now a scarlet red with some a berry red and the blossoms were more pronounced.  They were lovely.  Grasses and summer wildflowers still brown.  They made a nice backdrop for the green (sown) grass and the green of the pines and oaks.



I wondered to myself how many travelers really saw the colors and textures.  I hope some of them did.