Everybody talks

“Never thought I’d see the day, when everybody’s words got in the way,” Everybody Talks, Neon Trees

Blah blah blah. Yadda yadda yadda. Wha, wha, wha. (Side note: how do you spell what the adults in Charlie Brown’s world sound like? Hm.) Many of us talk to hear ourselves speak, but we aren’t really saying anything. More on that later. 

A book came out at some point about the different Love Languages. Mostly malarkey, (probably??? Not sure as that’s not my bag), there’s probably a grain’s worth of truthiness in there somewhere. Some saps probably go to the card store late in the evening of the 13th of February and grab whatever hasn’t been picked over, scribble a note, and add it to the big honkin’ heart-shaped box of chocolates and gas station flowers. (Don’t go all Forrest Gump on me, here: stay with me.) Hey, at least they remembered.

Some fix the holes in the drywall your bunny made so you don’t lose your security deposit. 

Some are your ride or dies. 

All of these are someone talking to you. Do you know how to listen? How to hear? 

In Yoga class, I often remind my students, “if your {insert body part here} is talkin’ to ya, back off, or pause [the movement] and breathe [into it]. Hopefully they heed my suggestions. It’s up to them. Sharp, pokey, pins & needles are bad; sensation is good. 

In foreign language class, I often say to my students, listen to me now, and hear me later, before gifting them some pearl or other. 😉 How might one tease apart the difference between listening and hearing? To me, listening is more literal. One can listen to music, one can listen to instructions given by whomever, or one can listen to deafening silence. 

Listen can be major ‘tude, as in, “listen here, lady!” This is right before someone lays. down. the. law. Or calls the manager? (Who else is glad we put 2020 to bed?) 

Hearing is more akin to deep listening. When in conversation, one might reply, “I hear ya!” to express sympathy, empathy, or some other -pathy. It might be the path to deeper connection, and more healing. Don’t ask ‘y.’ (Get it? I took the -y off the root -pathy! Ha! Reminds me of some algebra jokes. Comment below to hear ’em.) 

It is taken to mean one understands another’s POV. For my students, it means they should harken back to whatever’s been intoned and act accordingly. 

How can we turn off, at least temporarily, the citta vritti or mind-chatter in Sanskrit? Many will suggest meditation. If this conjures up images of sitting criss-cross, apple sauce on a cushion, OMing, you’re not alone. You’re not 100% right, but you’re not alone in thinking that. Meditation can be doing dishes, running, *or* sitting cross-legged on a cushion with or without beads. One can focus on a mantra, one can count breaths, or one can count beads. There are so many choices, all of which are valid. Any of these will allow the monkey mind to. Take. A. Break. Not to worry, they’re all there, clacking away on those Smith & Coronas, writing Shakespeare. Give ’em a rest, wontcha?

Everyone talks differently. Perhaps it’s time to shut up and listen so we can hear them. 

If this resonated with you, please feel free to comment below or drop me an email. Until our mats unfurl again, be well.

-M

PS Algebra jokes, anyone? Bueller?