It is hard to be fully present to another person, focusing completely on them and their needs, withour our own concerns, desires and needs getting in the way. We practice so that we can be really present, fully aware of the other, losing ourselves in a certain sense, so that the other can feel completely understood and appreciated.
No matter how quiet we are, the muskrats stay hidden.
Maybe they sense the tense hum of consciousness, the buzz from two human beings who in silence cannot help but be aware of each other, and so of themselves.
Annie Dilliard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Mindfulbalance 
Thanks Karl–love your blog, just stumbled across it today.
Hi Lauren. That means a lot from you whose blog is so beautiful and so well written. I love your simple steps and all the ideas that you share. Thank you
Nature teaches us.
I’ve been in love with Right Speech for a very long time and teach classes (definitely one of those teaching what she needs most to learn) and I find the listening piece, the art of being fully present and truly hearing another person without judgment or unsolicited opinions is the great challenge. Beautifully put — thank you.
I am reading this post as I listen to a song in which the lyrics are:
“It’s to light, it’s so easy just to be!” (Although it can be quite difficult to realize that and put it into practice.)
How appropriate š
Thank you for writing.