Of talking and the desire to be heard.

So it is said my friend Vanishree, ” I love soulful conversations, it is very stimulating.I always look forward to be able to have a good talk with someone who is well read and has an opinion.” Vani went on to create a forum for those intellectual and stimulating talks to happen and in the process brought many like minded individuals together to discuss books, life and what not. My experience of attending these talks count as some of the best moments of my life. I met interesting people, discussed matters of importance and in general had a great time. I am sure many others who were fortunate to be a part of this movement will share my opinion.

Some of the most meaningful and stimulating talks that I have outside the classrooms are those with the youngster at my home. Sometimes she shocks me with her insight. So it was when she stated after a rather long talk, ” Can you stop reinforcing the negatives with your repetition of the same?” Stunned almost, I became quiet and felt most humbled.

I realized how I was creating a rut, a pattern of things I didn’t want in my life any more. And decided to change.

For some blunt crystal clear perspective on any aspect of living, I can always trust my girl and my mom, they rarely dress the truth in sophistication!

Most people I know enjoy the idea of a soulful heart to heart conversation. Good conversations have to go beyond those meaningless forwards and good mornings and cliched jokes and wishes on many days of yearly importance.

Some of the most beautiful relationships that I recount are those between people who ‘sit down to talk’, the rest follows, or so I believe. On the reverse, relationships which crack are those that don’t allow time for the ‘talk’, or may be.

When I look back into my childhood, I remember the heated after dinner conversations, revolving around latest national happenings to state politics to office rivalries which formed a part of the discussion at  Kopparambil in Varandhirapilly. While women of the house were mostly quiet listeners there were times when they aired their views too. For my ten year old self, watching the silhouettes form against the yellow night lamps, some times dozing on my mother’s lap and half listening to what was being discussed was manna to the soul.

How many times do we get together for a talk, a simple, motive-less, non promotional sort of talk with those we would like to converse with?

Why do we not have forums for simple face to face talk where opinions and views can be debated and discussed?

A good conversation is a treat to the soul. With disappearing public places, the tree sides, temple corners, there is less and less scope for a good talk these days. After all aren’t we caught up in the task of living?

But do one thing, make time to talk to people who matter to you. Listen to them. Share views however opposing they might be over a cup of tea or coffee, sit down, talk over a book, discuss a film, go, get together. Make space for soulful conversations in your lives!

I am definitely trying to create more space for conversation in my life, nudging and even coaxing some to do the same. Are you interested in soulful conversations too?