An Admission

I admit it, sometimes I seem a bit standoff-ish. I don't mean to hurt any one's feelings, it is how I am. I also don't offer it as an excuse to behave badly, but as a place to start.

It was funny- Shelly and I took a little trip to take in a football game and see some old friends back in Florida. At one point on the on the way down, somewhere between Chattanooga, TN and Atlanta, Shelly said, "It's been more than an hour, so I'll say something." It was funny, we both laughed, since we both no how each other are. She always wants to talk, I never talk.

I don't know that there's a clear point of right and wrong, I don't even know if someplace in between is better than either way. I say this because I find I often judge, and am judged, based on the amount said instead of the content of what is said. If I hear a lot more than I need to know, I tend n0t to sort through and get the facts of the story I'm hearing but rather move on and get what I need elsewhere. Likewise, if someone gives a simple "just-the-facts" type answer we often excuse that person as some sort of bad person.

I guess I only bring all of this up as a lesson to myself. I don't know that I'm too quick to judge, but I do know I need to be careful to listen and much more careful about speaking. I don't know that I'll ever be able to speak quite as freely as I write; casual conversation is not something that comes terribly easy to me or is even that enjoyable.

Ironic, I guess that I even point this out to myself now. I have been at my desk for 11 hours tonight and I doubt I have spoken more than two sentences to the other two people in the room. I suppose I should stop writing and figure out how to put some of this into practice. Okay, I doubt it, but it's a thought.