When I was a kid, I have a classmate name Billy.
He came from a not so well off family and most of the time he is a laughing stock of our class.
He dresses weird, likes to draw (actually great) and talks a lot of time.
I remember, one afternoon class, we were asked a question about what we think about people.
We were at our 1st year high school that time and we all said silly answers.
When it came to his turn, he said:
“People are beings that will never be contented. We always want something and once we get it, we will ask for more. It’s a never ending cycle”.
We were all stun. There was about 3 seconds of silence. Then, my teacher broke it by saying how deep it was.
The class continued.
I can still remember it vividly, just like yesterday. Probably that’s why I can still remember his full name unlike all my other classmates.
Another time, we were in another activity. I can’t remember the exact scenario. All I have in my memory is what Billy said.
“We have to listen to everyone. May it be from an adult, beggar or even a child, you can always pick up something from them”
Up to this moment, I am holding to that phrase.
It’s just so pure.
Full of life.
My point to this long story is we always have to keep our ears and minds open.
Everyone has something to say. Everyone is an expert of something of their own.
If we stop choosing who to listen to, we will realize how much knowledge is abundant in our environment.
Listen carefully.
Don’t Judge.
Open your mind.
Then afterwards, filter it.
I know it’s sound ironic how much I advocate listening to everyone just to suggest on filtering it afterwards, but that’s the truth.
We want to get the good stuff from everything we’ve heard. This way, we can elevate our life’s value from what we have learn from them.
As much as I love books, it is not the only way for us to learn. We have everyone around us waiting to be listened to. Hear them out and learn from them.
Have a conversation and communicate with everyone, don’t choose. Listen to them, appreciate them, then you can filter your thoughts afterwards.
You’ll be surprise how much you can learn.
