i am a passionate woman
who doesn’t lie,
but is finding it hard to tell The Truth. . .
My Truth.
i’ve been a nice girl for so long
that burning my membership card
is only an initiation, not a transformation.
it’s like learning to talk again,
like visiting italy with a ragged dictionary.
sometimes i mention the wart on your chin
when all i really meant to do was ask for directions to the restroom.
sometimes i squeal and shriek like a 3-year old,
when what i really want to tell you is that i wish this moment
this very moment
would last forever.
maybe i look like a grown woman
who should know better,
but please
bear with me.
be patient.
help me learn to talk.
when i allow my flat lines to go curvy with
fury or glee or deep-seated, bottled-up feeling,
don’t tell me to calm down.
when i disagree with you,
don’t push the air between us with your palms
and tell me to wait just a minute.
when i appear agitated and my words trip and stumble on their way out,
when i look down instead of making eye contact,
when i’m obviously upset,
and you can’t believe
or don’t understand
what you’re hearing,
set aside your admonition to take a deep breath,
and instead of
asking what on earth has gotten into me . . .
just ask me what’s going on right here right now.
ask me what it is i really want to say,
then
uncross your arms,
lean a bit forward in your chair,
and maybe, if you’re feeling especially patient and caring and willing,
give me a hint of an encouraging smile
or at least bring the frown up to a non-judgmental, non-commital flat line,
and listen.
just listen.
Ah, Jeanne, beautiful. Even perfect.
i love, love, love this!! xoxo
I am here, listening, arms open, receiving every word with love and a keen desire to really know what's going on inside your heart, to hear your truth, to know what it is you really want to say.
Brava, beautiful one.
wow. and wow again. love this. reminds me how I want to be treated when i feel misunderstood and also invites me into the awareness of how I could show up when someone feels misunderstood by me. thank you for sharing this.
Isn't that the truth. Just listen. Don't just hear. Don't suggest. Don't solve. Just listen.
I'm listening and loving what I'm hearing… Every single burning word!
I don't think we're ever really together until we lean in and listen to each other…your truth is always there by default…you just have to keep scraping away all the stuff of life to get to it…beautiful writing…your truth is jumping right out at me 🙂
love, love, love, LOVE this — I was just sitting here with my computer– fussing away – and felt compelled to come see what Jeanne had to say — so glad i listened to my heart!!
I'm leaning forward, listening even beneath words and smiling SO big!! yea!!!
leaning forward and smiling
“Burning my membership card is only an initiation, not a transformation”
Every fiber in my being is singing with recognition of this post. I don't yet know enough words to know what else to say.
Simply stunning.
beautiful…my first time here.