“Here's why I will be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot talk, so I listen very well. I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own. People, if you pay attention to them, change the direction of one another's conversations constantly. It's like being a passenger in your car who suddenly grabs the steering wheel and turns you down a side street. For instance, if we met at a party and I wanted to tell you a story about the time I needed to get a soccer ball in my neighbor's yard but his dog chased me and I had to jump into a swimming pool to escape, and I began telling the story, you, hearing the words "soccer" and "neighbor" in the same sentence, might interrupt and mention that your childhood neighbor was Pele, the famous soccer player, and I might be courteous and say, Didn't he play for the Cosmos of New York? Did you grow up in New York? And you might reply that, no, you grew up in Brazil on the streets of Tres Coracoes with Pele, and I might say, I thought you were from Tennessee, and you might say not originally, and then go on to outline your genealogy at length. So my initial conversational gambit - that I had a funny story about being chased by my neighbor's dog - would be totally lost, and only because you had to tell me all about Pele. Learn to listen! I beg of you. Pretend you are a dog like me and listen to other people rather than steal their stories.”
― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain (A book written from the point of view of a dog)
Meet my favorite four-legged curly boy; his name is McNair and he's a lover. McNair is happiest when he gets to come up and cuddle in bed with me (usually in the morning time). He simply wants to be next to me--very much a velcro dog but not in the psycho way. He's pretty much the best dog anyone could ask for! He's chill, goofy, sensitive to feelings, always 'along for the ride', and loves unconditionally. He's my heart! Is it silly that I get teary eyed every time I think of how much he means to me?!
McNair is also a fantastic listener and best friend; we've been through a lot together! I wish I could be half the friend that he is to me. What would it be like if I was able to listen to him for a day.... I wish.