Relearning the lesson

When Kris and I first starting spending time with Ben and Lisa, way way way back when (10 years ago!), I thought Lisa didn't like me. I couldn't quite figure out why I felt this way. Kris told me I was mistaken, that the two of them liked the two of us, and, well, okay, Kris said I was crazy for thinking that. Still, I couldn't quite shake the feeling.

Until I figured out why, and the source was completely my fault.

My fault in that I interrupt people who are speaking, and Lisa doesn't let people interrupt her when she's speaking. If you attempt to interrupt Lisa, she will continue to talk until she's completed her sentence, then pause to allow you to talk. Really, it's how conversations should be: rather than interrupt the other person, listen to what she's saying, then answer that.

With Lisa around, I learned to stop interrupting people when they are talking, listen to them, and, hey, what do you know, Lisa likes me. Fancy that.

In the three years since Ben and Lisa have been gone, I've fallen back into my rude ways. Honestly, I'm pretty embarrassed by it, too. I've spent most of today trying to undo the interruptting habit I have, to listen to whoever is talking to me, and start talking only when he's done.

I'm not sure I'll be able to fix this habit in a weekend, but, once again, Lisa makes me a better person by reminding me of how to one of my faults.

She's good like that.