Reader, if you want to live to a hundred years, one of the most important habits you need to turn is to be a GOOD, VERY GOOD LISTENER.
Yes, it is very very important.
Who is a LISTENER?
A listener is a person? who keeps his mouth? shut? but? his? ears extremely? wide? open, trying as? much as possible? to capture into? his? brain all that? is? being? said around him.
You will be surprised? to? notice that most? people? can? betray? themselves? through? too much talking, too much? noise, all based on? the? propensity of every mortal to? want to? communicate.
When good? future? enables me? to get? a very? beautiful girl as? a catch, I want? to? broadcast it? among? my circle? of friends.? If I land a good fortune whether through fain or foul mean I want? to share? it ? reader, most people?? use? their? own tongues? to condemn? themselves,? so OPEN YOUR EARS widely,? and listen, just be nodding your? head,? and? LISTEN, to? gather as much information as possible? – and? you know? that KNOWLEDGE? IS POWER.
When I was as army officer, there was an attempted coup, and several soldiers were arrested.? During that week,? we at National Investigation? Committee went to work all-night, but all morning? and all afternoon? we only? discussed? the coup? attempt, the way the Revolution was grieving, members of t he PNDC and so? on.
As?? we? exchanged comments so freely, I was so scared? that throughout I NEVER said? one? word, I just LISTENED? and? LISTENED and? kept on LISTENING? reader, I was? surrounded? by NIC? PNDC? Chairman, Jerry john Rawlings. They were so close that they could afford the luxury or publicly? of criticizing? some of his actions? and? calling? him? names ? but who? was I -? lone ranger, constantly under suspicious? of wanting? to Stage? a coup,? accused? of ambition, wanting to become Head of State ? if? I open my mouth and? say ?Jerry? is doing this? or? that?? who? turn, one? of these? same? persons? will? go and say? eh JJ, do you know? what? Effah Dartey has? said? I? may? have?? only said ?A? but? he? will add? his own ?B? ?C? and? ?D? — before I can say anything I would have? been dead.
Reader, LISTEN ? When you go to a pub and people are chatting or debating, just LISTEN, don?t offer an opinion.? When you sit? in a taxi and? the? driver if? generating? heat and blasting? all the? way, just? LISTEN -? don?t? join the? fray. When you go to a funeral, church, outdooring, wedding ? anytime you see people two, three or more, mildly talking and saying this, that ? please, for God?s Sake, JUST LISTEN!!!
One false word and you are dead.
Source: Kwame Nkrabeah
