The end of another week brings us to another round of “Three Things I Liked.” Here’s what I got:

First: I thoroughly enjoyed the following paragraph from Adam McHugh’s book The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction:

If I have learned anything as a listener over the past fifteen years, it’s that people love to ask for advice, but when they ask for advice they don’t usually want it; instead, they want an opportunity to discuss their struggle. Every generic request for advice has a personal story or trouble behind it. If you dispense advice too quickly, you are not hearing them. A simple response of “Why do you ask?” will take the conversation to the level of motivation, which is where the true meaning lies (146).

Second: For some time now, I’ve started my mornings by writing and listening to James Quinn’s YouTube channel. Highly recommended!

Third: I liked Mary Oliver’s poem, “Don’t Hesitate,” which you can find here.

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give into it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the
case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

I loved the opening line: If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give into it!