You’re ready. But for what exactly? What are you waiting for?
You plan your day, define your goals for the next few months and maybe the next few years. You’re on your way. But where to?
Do you spend the whole day rushing around to accomplish something that’s already forgotten by evening? Do you notice the people around you? Or do you just follow your own tracks, arriving at some random destination that isn’t any better?
Do you know where your autopilot button is? When did you last switch it off? When did you simply stop, consciously take time, and genuinely listen to someone?
You’re sitting at your computer, need to concentrate. Your son comes over and mumbles “Hello.” Nothing more. He looks at you questioningly. Your eyes stay glued to the screen. You say casually, almost annoyed: “Hello back. I’ll talk to you in a minute, I just need to finish this.” Your son goes to his room, disappointed. You don’t even notice that. You didn’t hear his offer. How often will he open himself to you again?
Your colleague comments on something in a meeting. You sense there’s something there. Nobody follows up because it doesn’t lead anywhere and costs time. An offer. Maybe you should approach him after the meeting and ask what’s going on. Do you dare, or is that rather bothersome, not goal-oriented?
The big question is: Do you take the time? Do you give your time and attention to other people? Or do you prefer to keep them for yourself, to save time and energy for the journey to Somewhere? Who’s waiting for you there? If you don’t respond to the offers from your fellow humans, it’ll be lonely at your destination. Do you really want that?
What would happen if, at the next offer, you dropped everything and were completely present for the other person — not just for a moment “yes, in a sec, just a minute,” but for however long it takes? Would you lose much? Or gain more? Connection, trust, affection, quality of life.
Be open to offers: Start today, gratefully accept unspoken offers from people (and from life), be present. And finally switch off that autopilot.
First appeared in German on reinergaertner.de, my blog since 1997. AI-assisted translation — because life’s too short to translate 150 posts by hand, but too long to leave them in German.