The favorite part of my morning routine is standing on my back patio for a few minutes and listening to the birds sing. There are a wide variety of songs coming from several places. I’ve come to realize that I usually hear birds singing when I’m outside, if I listen for them. I enjoy it so much that I put up a bird feeder to have more in the area. I give the birds a reason to be around my house so I can enjoy their singing.
I do something similar with people. Instead of giving them food, I feed them questions that give them an opportunity to share something positive in their lives. A couple examples are: What made you smile this week or What’s better about …………… .than you thought it was going to be?
I ask people I know well and some I’ve just met, like the checker at the store or someone helping me on the phone. I get a lot of standard answers like waking up in the morning. Often they say a child or grandchild. Then I get to ask follow-up questions such as how many children do you have. Now and then I get to hear something really cool. Once a young man on the phone told me he found a recording of a song his grandmother wrote back in the 1950s.
I’ve noticed that when left to their own devices, people will often complain or talk about what is wrong in their lives out of habit. I help them suspend that habit, at least for this conversation. It’s a present for them. They get to relive something positive in their lives by sharing it with me. Often they thank me for asking such a question. Some answer, “you just did”.
Life can be tough. Problems happen. I share mine with the people who have earned that right to hear them. They have shown me over time that I truly matter to them. I’m glad to return the favor. It’s a gift, in the right situation. So is asking a positive question.
I believe that life is mostly what you make it. I like hearing birds sing so I feed them and listen. I like hearing the positive things in others’ lives so feed those possibilities and listen. Nothing more complicated than perception.
May you have enough today, one moment at a time.
Let your vagus nerve help.
THIS HELPED ME 