Easy Listening

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Have you ever had a friend who can talk and talk and talk?

Today’s good deed: ASK “HOW ARE YOU?” AND REALLY LISTEN FOR MORE THAN, “FINE”

I have a few friends that can talk till the cows come home … then they’d talk to the cows. They’re great to take to restaurants (the friends, not the cows). I can order food, sit back, and let them rattle on. I eat without having to say a word. It can be very entertaining, like a live taping of the Wendy Williams Show.

One girlfriend in particular LOVES to talk. I know if I open the door with, “How are you?” I should be prepared for the long haul. Sometimes I don’t mind, but other times I’ve got more important things to do like work or … anything else. Today, however, I could tell she really wanted to talk. So I let her.

We sat in a park and gabbed. Well … she gabbed. I kept great eye contact. There was no huge news, like a pending divorce or a firing or a murder, just your run of the mill annoyances, day to day aggravations that irritate like a pebble in your shoe. I let her talk on.

Ever since I can remember, people have been really comfortable talking to me. I don’t know why. Friends, family members, even strangers have shared secrets out of the blue. People feel at ease with me. It’s one of my super powers … that and metamorphic hair.

With great power comes great responsibility. People trust me, so I have to be trustworthy. I learned quickly how to keep secrets (here’s a hint: don’t tell them), and I learned how to listen. I’m honored that people want to talk to me, I just wish sometimes they would spread that honor around.

An hour and 12 minutes later I’m still listening. To my girlfriend’s credit, when she finished she asked me how I was and then waited for more than just, “Fine.”

I’m glad I listened. What are friends for if we can’t listen to each other’s problems? I noticed her mood changed during the conversation. It got lighter. My mood changed too. It was touched with grace.

We gave each other big hugs before we went to our cars.

“We should get together for lunch,” she said.

Why not? I’m starting to like the Wendy Williams Show.

Photo (Flickr CC) by TC Photography

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Holly Walker

Ms. Walker made her acting debut at the tender age of 8 in For Spring is the Season of Happiness. She almost turned down the role of Mother Nature (she wanted the role of "Spring") until she found out Mother Nature had the most lines. On that day, a diva was born. Holly has traveled the world performing comedy. She has been to more than 40 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide. She is an alum of the improvisational companies Boom Chicago and The Second City. Holly currently works on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore as a writer and performer. She has been a part of the Rebel Storytellers family since 2009 and hopes to be with them for many years to come.

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