Do Not Listen...

"Nobody will tell you gossip if you don't listen." - Marlene Dietrich, actor


This is an excellent reminder regarding gossip; I don't have to listen!

I must admit that there are times when my ears perk up when I think I'm about to hear a bit of gossip. I'm not proud of this fact, but it does happen once in awhile. These days, I tend to lean on the side of compassion and empathy though. When I hear gossip, I usually try to find a way to interject something positive into the mix in order to steer the conversation away from "did you hear what he/she did now?". It's not always easy and sometimes it's not what I want to do, but it is the best choice for me if I do find myself engaging in a "gossip" conversation.

I remember how I felt when I found out people were talking about me behind my back. I remember wanting to defend myself in some way but feeling too scared because I felt I was being judged and ridiculed. I didn't feel as if anyone would bother to listen to me anyway, so why even try.

I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around. I believe in the Universal Law of Attraction. I want to give as much compassion as I can to anyone I meet because that is what I would like in return. I may not know all of the circumstances a person is trying to face up to in any given situation. They may be struggling in a way that never even occurred to me. I want to be able to reach out my hand to help, not talk badly about them and cause more angst.

So, today I will not choose to participate in spreading gossip but I will choose to listen in kindness and love, that I may be able to help whoever may be facing a dark storm ahead. Also, today I will remember that I can reach out to others for help if a dark storm arises on my path. We can all choose to help each other.