Have you ever successfully stopped talking so much?

I am a talker--my name means rapid succession of sound. Ha! Did my parents know that when they named me? But with that said, in college my favorite class was Speech--not so I could speak but because it taught me to listen. I also became a Stephen Minister when I started my job because my job is connecting with people. I also learned a lot more about listening. I now love to listen because you can learn SO many interesting things about people--their background, their skills, their hurts, their hopes, their family, etc., etc., etc. I have fallen in love with so many people because I know them so much more deeply if that makes sense.

Do I still fail sometimes? Absolutely but then I stop, and ask them a question or let the conversation move forward with them talking instead of me.

Now here is a funny--I talk to myself constantly. I was in between services at church getting ready for the next service. I don't know what I was saying but one of my greeters comes up to me and says "How is that conversation working out for you?" I thought it was the funnies thing ever!!!! I loved it, and tell the story quite often.

Give yourself grace when you fall. Stop when you can, and learn to love to listen.