Im not listening

Today I have been pondering internal dialogue….

You know the conversations you have with yourself silently, discreetly and often whilst speaking about something else out loud?  I often miss pieces of actual conversation with actual human beings because I am distracted by myself, is that arrogance? self-absorption? or even just plain old rude?  

I don’t find myself deliberately ignoring what someone else is saying to me, but find that I can, all of a sudden, have missed a few vital seconds of a conversation.  I come back to reality to discover someone staring at me, obviously awaiting my response, ( enter the uncomfortable pause as we stare at each other blankly) before I fill in the blanks and come up with a somewhat delayed response. 

Anyway, I do have a point, I promise.

 I wonder how many people even notice this lapse of attention and whether they find me irritating for it?  I do not feel this is a reaction to the conversation, regardless how dull the topic. I am not naturally rude and do my best to appear interested in what people have to say, take part in conversations and impart my opinion when requested.  Do you lose yourself in your mind?  not because you are bored or uninterested, but simply because you cannot help yourself?        

 

Just because someone asks you to repeat yourself, please do not assume they have intentionally shut off the ears, but instead that they have been dragged into the recesses of their own mind unwillingly!