Listen

he told me his name, said it clearly and didn't mumble. I repeated it to him and told him my name. I asked him what his position was and how long he'd worked there...I don't remember a word he said. Not a bit. I can see his face in my head but I cannot for the life of me remember his name.

who does that? who asks someone a question and then doesn't listen to the answer? who meets someone and then doesn't remember their name?

I just spoke with a close friend about this very issue about a week ago. He told me that he always had trouble with people's names and I had told him that since my job change of meeting new people for the American Red Cross that I had gotten better. I said "just make sure that when you ask someone's name that you listen intently to hear what they say. the reason that we don't remember is because we don't listen very well. We're too concerned with what we have to say next."

Well, great advice. (If I do say so myself) Too bad that I didn't follow a word of it today. My biggest problem is that I am so impressed with what I've got to say that I don't really listen to others. I often think about intimate things I might know about others, what insight I might be able to gain in relationships, what kind of lover or friend that I could be if I would actually stop and listen.

Next time I see the guy I met today he'll remember my name and I'll have to call him "buddy," or "dude," or "man" or I'll have to embarrass myself and ask his name again...

Then, the next time I meet someone, I should probably just listen...why is that so much harder than it sounds?