Are you really listening?

"Other People's Stories can expand our views of the world." when i first read this quote, the first thing that popped into my head was, when people tell me stories about there life, am i hearing them talk or am i really listening? i think for me, listening to people is a major positive communication skill i have. We all view the world in many different ways, and have many differnt stories to tell. We all do not see the same things under the light of the sun or the moon. Listening to people's stories shows us that their is more to the day than what we see, some may think life is simple, or very diffuclt to get through however hearing stories shows us that we control our own way of viewing the world.

I have a story that happened just last weekend right after class, and on my way to service. Now the story is nothing life changing, however at the end of the day, i felt really good about helping this man with something very little in life that i sure take for granted. OKAY.now to the story, as i was getting off the highway there was a homeless man walking up and down the street asking for money, food, anything to help him get through another day, now in my opinion i do not like to give people of that nature money, because i really dont know what they will do with it, and again that is my own opinon, however, i looked down and i had a few grapefruits sitting on my car floor, and i thought for a moment.. keep driving? or give him the grapfruit. as he approached my car, i hesitated a bit, but i knew the right thing to do, and i gave him the grapefruit. He was such a thankful man, and it felt good giving back to him.Now, i could have gone about my day saying i did a good deed, now i do not have to do anything else, but i didnt, i told every one at SLICE what i had did, and went on with my day knowing in my head, that guy was very thankful for what he had recieved. Now to me, in this story physical contact was more of importance than verbal, by just showing this man did not have alot. But it opened my eyes to realize, there are many things in life i take for granted,and i should be thankful for the little things in life, and not value the WANTING items as much.

I have one more story about people opening up and showing me the world in other people's eyes. I went to camp Junior and Senior Year of high school called Our Town, with Calvin Terrell and he helped us open up to people we would not normally open up to at school, work, or any where our social network takes us. Thhrough the camp we all went through many struggles agreeing and disagreeing on the ways people view each other, the world, and the way society has become. At this camp, it took alot of listening and opening up,now it was harder to do then just telling my best friend what is going on in my life. These were strangers i had just met and tell them personal information, however it was not as horrible as it sounds, we all opened up which ment we all felt comfortable with each other knowing we all live seperate lives, and we see the same changes in the world but react in different ways.

We take action as indivduals based on how we feel towards it, weither it is school,work, community service, or meeting new friends. I personally feel as though the United States is such a diverse Country however the people in it are very much independent. I feel as if we listen to one another's stories more, and open up to more of a variety we can become more of a closer country and be more understanding.