An elderly gentleman had been struggling with serious hearing problems for many years.
Finally, he visited the doctor, who fitted him with a pair of hearing aids that restored his hearing completely.
A month later, he returned to the doctor for a follow-up. The doctor remarked, "Your hearing is excellent! I bet your family is thrilled to have you back in the conversation."
The gentleman chuckled and replied, "Oh, I haven’t said a word to them yet. I just sit quietly and listen to their discussions. In fact, I've changed my will three times!"
Moral of the story:
Sometimes, it's better to listen and observe before taking action. The gentleman's newfound hearing allowed him to gain valuable insight into his family's conversations, which ultimately led to him really getting to know the true them. (And we know he wasn't impressed at least three times!)
This story reminds us that knowledge is power, and sometimes the best way to gain knowledge is by simply listening. The next time you're tempted to jump into a conversation or make a decision, take a moment to listen and observe first. You never know what valuable information you might uncover. I wish I could follow my own advice sometimes...
