Families and formed by listening snd bounding
The most important thing missing in today’s world is listening. This is the most important reason why there are so many counselors but hardly any family time in most people’s homes. Let us all set this right.
One of the most important memories I have of my late grandfather is the time he used to listen to all my stories and issues, however minor they may be for him. As soon as he was free for sometime, he would ask me to sit with him while he sipped his coffee and kept listening to all that happened during the day and books that I read as both of us were avid readers. The same system my husband and I followed with our children. With this our tea or coffee time became really wonderful and a bond formed between us naturally.
Listening is the best gift
We must know that we reach out to our families mainly because they know all about us. With this being the case, we must make enough time for them so that we know all about them. This happens only when we devote our time and energy to each other so that we know whom to reach out to in times of difficulty that we are bound to face in the journey of our lives. When we handle this with our kith and kin, the bonds only become stronger and more deep.
“I was extremely anxious at that time. You spent time, listened and understood my difficulty so I vowed to do my best” she says. This minor incident does also show us the importance of bonding with all our family members. As I was closer to my cousin's age, she understood me in a better way in other areas and I too understood her in a better way. This is why in those days, though the problems were many, most were resolved through the great Indian family structure itself.
We can see this even in our underprivileged peoples’ families where they are always there for each other and yes, do listen to each other in all areas. This is unfortunately not the case in many materially rich people who refuse to make time for each other and listen to each other. There are parties but no real bonding and true listening. The talks in such circles are usually only about sales and acquisitions, never about themselves and their real issues even in families. This is why most of these families are fake and unreal, with bonds that are also acquired, never real.
Becoming extremely busy people wishing to please everyone around us, are we forgetting who are most important in our lives?With so many people to listen to, have we forgotten to listen to the most important people in our lives, our families?
This needs to be initiated again in some way so that we and our loved ones who need our support and strength don’t become lonely in our own homes.
By Jamuna Rangachari
