What good are opinions?
When you stop to think about it, they’re for the opiner more than anyone, a way to say, “I’m here.”
But it’s more than that.
When I hear people giving their opinion, the refrain I hear in my head is usually one of two things:
“No one has listened to me.”
OR
“I’m not listening to you.”
(Actually, it can be both of these at the same time!)
Oh, and there’s one more phrase that comes to mind, the one that gets us into the most trouble, particularly when we’re not standing in the same room and our comments are in boxes.
“Let’s argue.”
Of all of these, the first one is the most forgivable and most interesting. You’ll know it’s the first one because once you take the time to listen, the person’s entire body will change. They will change shape and color, like a ripening fruit. Their shadow will lighten, from black to a beautiful almost imperceptable shade of blue.
And the both of you will be able to move on, go a little bit further than you expected.
Moving is always more interesting than standing still.
What’s more important? What’s going to help you ripen?
Hearing your words out in the open air again?
Or hearing theirs?