Listen

Hello out there! I had big plans today for a post about living creatively, but my boyfriend ran off into the mountains with our shared digital camera, so it will have to wait until later (maybe tonight if he gets back early enough). But I did want to share a new drawing with you. This one is called “Listen,” and it’s another one from my How to Save the World series. I just put the print version up for sale in my Etsy Shop. [So far, I am only selling prints there as I figure out how I want to handle my shop, but please let me know if you are ever interested in buying an original or even a print of something you see here, but is not yet available in my shop.]

I think listening is so important. It’s so hard to listen sometimes, but I think listening (as opposed to talking) is the foundation of good communication. I struggle with this, especially with my closest relationships because sometimes I get so excited to tell people something, that I forget to listen to what they have to say.

I recently heard or read somewhere (wish I could remember where) that really listening to someone is about just listening, not trying to give your input. This advice was given in the context of how when we are “listening” to someone, we often feel the need to volunteer a story about a time we experienced something similar, instead of taking the time to really understand what someone is saying. This really hit me hard because I do this constantly. I’ve been trying to pay attention to this habit and realize there is a time and a place for everything.

On that note, I will stop talking and start listening to what you all have to say, with my pen and ink ears below and my open comment box on this blog! Let me know what you’re thinking out there!

“Listen” 8×10 inches