"If speaking is silver, listening is gold" -Turkish Proverb

"Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don't have to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen." Margaret J. Wheatley

The greatest gift I have ever received in my life is the feeling of being truly heard and understood. It does not require an alignment of opinions to feel such acceptance, but an open mind and heart of the listener to the seemingly irrational overflowing volcanic heart. It is sweet comfort to feel the reassurance of a friend or loved one's understanding and encouragement when your shoulders are weighed down like Atlas'. What words can accurately describe the fathomless gratitude a trembling soul feels at the clear seeing support of those who while acknowledging your brokeness can remind you of your immense value at the same time? Can there be any more profound expressions of friendship and love than the open ears and arms of one who places no judgement on you? It is true we all stuggle to be better listeners, to offer more gold and less silver in our relationships with each other. I know I have much of the silver and not enough of the gold in mine and strive to do better, but I also know that it is in our most meaningful interactions that we learn how to listen with our hearts more and talk with our intellect less, allowing for a true understanding of the woes with which our friends may be weighed down. In that way we become not just receivers of the greatest gifts but dispensers as well. Thank you to my 24k friends and family....I have been blessed indeed!