Listening

I had a rare day off from everything this week – not working, not parenting, and not caring for the dog. It was a delicious day that included the gym, a manicure, and flirting with an adorable barista who put a heart in the foam of my latte (literally not metaphorically).

The best part of my day off was a trip to the movies. Oh, yes, the movies. In the middle of the day, all by myself. On a Monday.

I went to see The King’s Speech. It’s the story of King George VI who had a terrible speech impediment. He stammered horribly and at the time of his reign, radio was just becoming an important medium. This, combined with the start of World War II made speech an increasingly important part of being a leader. As King, his role was to inspire people with his words, but what if those words couldn't be spoken?

For help, he goes to see Jeffery Rush who plays a non-traditional speech therapist. As the movie goes along, the two men develop a close friendship that gives the King a chance to share his story, the details of a very painful life. It was in that sharing, of receiving the gift of a friend who listened and being truly heard that helped him to become the leader that he was meant to be.

The world was made different because someone listened.

I’ve felt the power of that gift myself. There was a lot going on in my family growing up, and it was hard to get listened to or to be seen for who you were. Without that confirmation growing up, you enter the world presenting other voices - the voices that you think deserve to be heard. When you do that, it’s always difficult to be understood.

But then I met some amazing people who I felt really believed in me. And that belief was made present to me by the way that they listened. They heard me and understood me in ways that I didn’t always understand myself. By listening to who I truly was, they gave me the power to speak and act from my authentic self and to be the person I was meant to me.

As human beings, I think that’s the pretty much the best gift we can give to each other. To show up, to listen, and be present for the person who is in front of us. It can change a person. In fact, it can change the world.