We’ve all heard the old adage “you learn something new every
day”….probably even said it a time or two.
Last night an unexpected phone call taught me a valuable lesson that I will
strive to remember from now on.
I crawled into bed early last evening after having one of
those days that just seemed to suck the life force from your body. I was exhausted, so when the phone rang at
around ten thirty I’d already been sleeping for about an hour.
The phone is on my husband’s side of the bed, and I listened
as he tried to connect with the person on the other end of the line. His, “hello?….hello?...hello?” went without
acknowledgement and he turned to me with a puzzled expression.
“Who is it,” I asked?
I was instantly convinced someone was dead, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know
just who that might be.
“I don’t have any idea,” my husband said. He handed me the telephone.
I listened intently to the conversation going on at the other
end; it wasn’t long before I realized I was eavesdropping on someone’s
discussion! I also loudly tried to get
their attention, then strained to identify one of the two or three voices as
the women talked. I thought I had it…then
decided it couldn’t be that person.
Listening more closely I figured it was another person…but the voice was
just not close enough to the phone to be sure. Who in the world is this?
Finally I stopped trying to figure out “whom” and listened
for a second to “what”, and that’s when I realized they were talking about ME!
I am guilty of not taking the high road; I listened for a
moment as one woman talked to the others about Heart of Ohio Magazine, which
she was obviously showing them. They
must have been in front of a computer, because they went on to visit my (this)
blog. While they were commenting about
the article I wrote about the drift wood tree, I finally realized I was
listening to one of our neighbors. It
was a relief to figure out who it was….but a total mystery how we came to be
connected by telephone.
I only listened a couple of minutes more and, still unable
to gain their attention, I hung up. The
conversation I heard was as complimentary as if I’d been sitting in the room
giving them no other option. It was very
kind.
After scratching our heads at the mystery of it all, my
husband and I settled back down to sleep. I lay there in the dark for a bit thinking
that our neighbors, whom I’ve always considered to be very nice and genuine
people, were just as nice when they didn’t know (I) someone was listening as
they are when speaking to people face to face.
I have to admit I was a bit uncomfortable wondering if I would fare as
well in the same situation.
I don’t have the slightest idea how we became technically
linked last evening. Maybe it was a call
arranged by a higher power, I can’t really say.
I only know what started as an accidental dialing actually became a
learning experience.
How easy it is to say unkind things cloaked in the guise of “it’s just my sense of humor”. It’s easy to
slip into the mode of being judgmental and critical and forget that kindness is
the better option…..always.
Think about it for just a second, and be honest with
yourself. How would you be perceived if someone overheard you talking to others
about them? I took stock and made a
mental note that I want to be able to pass the test presented by an unknown
person in the room listening. All too often the main source of protein in my
diet has come from putting my over-sized foot in my mouth. I’m going to work on that.
Okay, I’m going to work on being a kinder, gentler person….but,
just in case you think I’m going to completely lose my sense of humor, hear
this: I am going to mercilessly tease
my neighbors about the phone call and enjoy every second of it at our next
breakfast meeting. I have not told them
about my eavesdropping experience, but when they read this they’ll know who
they are.
It’s great to have good neighbors….it’s also great to realize
they’re actually as good as you thought they were.
Life is Good
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