For nearly a year I have worked at a job where I need to be present to people in a way that I’ve never before been. As the Guest Services Coordinator at a retreat center part of my job is to be present to people – on the phone, via email, and in person. Even if there is not a lot of conversation – and being a gently silent retreat center, there usually isn’t a lot of conversation – I am conscious of being present to our guests. I am attentive to their reservation requests and the questions that usually follow. I am attentive to when they arrive and whenever possible, going out to greet them as they walk from their car. I am attentive to them as they join the staff for conversation after morning prayers. I am attentive to them as I prepare and serve meals taking into account guests’ dietary needs.
And my attention to people is not limited to our guests. My work colleagues include my wife and another married couple and our relationship is deeper than merely work-mates – and these relationships require deep attention.
This work of being attentive to people is in strong contrast to my previous job. In my previous work “behind the scenes” in a library, being attentive to others was not part of my job description, and not often part of my work life. My relationships with my colleagues were usually good but largely functional. I also spent a good deal of time working alone.
And podcasts?
In my previous job, and off the job, I listened to a lot of podcasts. While I tended to avoid overly long, overly chatty podcasts, I had people speaking in my headphones for several hours each day. I really enjoyed hearing interesting people tell stories, conduct interviews, and solve crime or science puzzles. There were a lot of people with a lot of words.
Since transitioning to this new work life, I’ve found my interest and desire to listen to clever and the wise words piped into my ears has significantly declined. The talk-filled programs now tire me more often than engage me. I feel bad about this, because I appreciate these podcasts and their creators, but I just don’t have it in me to give my attention to all those people and all their words. It’s not them, it’s me.
It’s not that the headphones have left my head. By no means. Spotify now pipes all sorts of sounds into my ears. But its all music. I’ve noticed that much of the music I’ve been listening to lately either has no words, or the lyrics are in a language I don’t understand. I’m also playing a ton more guitar.
As an introvert I am intrigued to see how I am responding to/coping with a job that involves me putting myself out for people. I love our retreat guests and am honored to offer them my attentive hospitality. And, this attentiveness to the people before me doesn’t leave space for me to give my attention to the people and their podcast world.