Listening

Listening is not so much an act as it is a process and the listening often continues well past the hearing of the remarks. The true meaning of nuances and small gestures may not be clear for decades. One day, we recall an old conversation and think, "That's what was meant!" and we are reminded that the words were just a small portion of the meaning. Our conversations resemble a stew far more than an exchange and the amount of each ingredient determines the taste.