Tuesday, May 11, 2010

How I sound...

Has anyone ever told you that you sound like your doing well? An e-mail or short phone call... and somehow they think you must be in excellent spirits. Why do people say stuff like that? If they are wrong are you supposed to say, "No actually... life is rough right now, I'm just smiling to keep from making everyone else's lives just as bad." Not that my life is bad right now... I'm just curious about the comment, especially when it is applied to an e-mail. I guess I am sounding good right now... hmm... what is it that spurs people on to make that comment at some times and not others. What specific words or phrases make that come to mind. It is only a question.

3 comments:

Bobbinoggin said...

I think that often, especially whilst peering into others' lives via blogs and emails, it is especially easy to see a silver lining and fool ourselves into thinking this person or that is living the golden life.

Similar to thinking the green is grasser on the other side, it is so easy to merely look at a person's life on the surface.

Your question poses a good reminder for all of us to really *listen* to a person. How many times do we listen to the words without the tone. Or see the action without the body language that delivers it? How often do we see that someone else is talking, and instead of really listening, we're planning our next interjection/exclamation?

I guess my answer to why "people say stuff like that" is because they are not listening. Not in the true sense of the act.

A challenge would then be, instead of saying "it sounds like you're doing well" to ask, "how can I be praying for you?" "how can I help/support you right now?"

I've been pondering a post about how we view others. Your post helps bring forth more thoughts for that eventual publication.

Blessings to you! And please let us know, how can we pray for you this week?

Bobbinoggin said...

the green is grasser! HA! of course, I meant the grass is greener.

Anonymous said...

Hi...sounds like the sort of thing I might say (so I hope it wasn't me on this occasion!I don't think so...but I sure have been busy so..) The reason I may say it...is to "not assume" that even if the person sounds ok...hopefully they are; but it could be they aren't traveling as well as they might be. Then, if they are not, then the person is there for them. Good thought from Bobbinoggin...to ask how can I be praying for you...