Listen

I used to have a running joke that I only half listened to anything that was said to me.  It would make me giggle openly to be able to confess to a person that I would generally glaze over and stop listening halfway through their conversation with me.  Even now as I type this I must admit that I do chuckle at this notion, not from pride behind this statement; but more so at my blatant audacity towards disrespect.  (I suppose the chuckle serves more as a means of masking my discomfort with my past self.  However, the fact that I can look back at this behavior and not look at the behavior (in the present sense) is a testament to my growth.

This is where I get to the point...

I've been noticing a trend lately and now that I really reflect on it, I suppose its karma doing her thing.  

Thing is this; I am often not heard.  Let me expand on this...  I am heard, however I am not acknowledged in several aspects of my life.  Here's an example of a typical Marisa Moment Conversation:

Person 1:  Hey Marisa, what are you doing?
Me:  Nothing much, how about you?
Person 1:  I'm looking for some new sweat socks
Me:  Maaaaannnnnn, I'm not sweating no socks!
Person 1:  Yea, I'm going to be looking for a while
Me:  Well hopefully it will go quickly
Person 1:  Maaaaannnnn, I'm not even sweating those socks!
Me:   *hello, hello... is this thing on?!*   O_O

See what I mean?  OK, so this was a silly example; however I'm noticing that this trend is crossing over many facets of my life.  (There is a lesson, I promise)

So this is what I know.... I must Listen; I mean truly listen if I wish to be heard.  I also must recognize that although I'm not an advocate for working to become the center of attention; at times if I wish to be heard I will need to speak up for myself.  Even if it means running the risk of looking like, "that gal."  It's time to find my voice... It's time to be heard.  

My question to you is.... Do you listen, or do you just want to be heard?

*Peace and Blessings*