I’m learning…still…that how I respond holds as deep of meaning– if not more– as what I say…that in person and voice lend to genuine, mutual depth that sometimes can not be ‘heard’ or ‘understood’ via email.
If you’ve ever emailed or texted and would have preferred you chose voice or in person, you’ll prolly relate to my reflecting on the same thing…
I offer this poem in written format because it shows the process of my figuring my preference to communicate online, honoring the preferences of those with whom I’m communicating, while also striving to sculpt clarity with what I’m striving to say. I’m teaching myself video…I deeply appreciate your patience with my learning process. 🙂
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An apology
I did it
again
I went on and on
in an email
to a friend
It was too late
to phone, or facetime, or skype
And tho I know
its hard
to interpret tone
I listened
to the urge
insisting
I splurge
And outpour
And go on and on
in email…
Yet
had I remembered
voice
or inperson
were preferred
Whenever
we can
I would have known
that for my friend
reading all of the words
feels harsh
feels setting up for
impossible reciprocal
and so when the phone rang
at 2am
I lept to answer it
Only to hear the voice
of my
friend
crushed
and wondering
why
yet again
she reminded me
Really?
I thought you were my friend
and tho I cringed
and struggled for words
all I could hope for
was that her love would endure
for the yearning within
that beckoned me write
came from love
not anything petty or strife
And so I’ve learned another lesson more
To value the needs of whom I adore
And its less about the what about I have to say
And so much more
the how
we agree
to share
that day
May I remember
to honor
communication needs
In this pace that sometimes
feels call backs and emails are done in snippets as deeds.
And so I hope to treasure hearts anew
And pause on the pull to email to touch base…
I’ll make that promise
How bout you?
We are all moving at paces that sometimes find us sometimes sacrificing quality and method of response for response time.
I’m learning to pause more than respond immediately, and ask more about how I am choosing to respond…and what will allow more genuine mutual exchange to occur.
What’s helping me deeply is to zero into my intention–what I’m seeking to convey– and be willing to shift the how I proceed.
More to come on this topic….