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Mary Martin

Professor Davis

Online Comp II

31 January 2020

The Power of Conversation

Talking is not just flapping one’s lips together in meaningless forms of mouth noise.

Talking can have a great deal of significance in people’s lives. I have had many conversations

through-out my life that have influenced the decisions I made. Anytime I make a big decision I

first talk to my husband and then my elders/mentors. A conversation with my husband has the

effect of putting my options/opinions into real perspective. My elders/mentors can provide

advise of what happened when they were in the same situation and what they may have done

differently. I have always tried to learn the hardest way growing up. As an adult, I have learned

to consult others and listen to what mistakes they made and how I can make a better decision. I

think a conversation has the power to change lives by listening, it influences others by talking to

the right people, and can be therapeutic.

First, a conversation can change lives just from listening. There are always two sides to a

conversation. Listening is just as important in a conversation as talking. I would only know my

own opinions/ideas if I did not listen to the other party’s remarks. Being a good conversationalist

means listening and speaking. Also, a simple conversation can change a couple’s life just from

listening to each other. My husband and I have been through plenty together. I believe our bond

has been strengthened by learning to listen to one another. Listening can be a challenge in any

marriage and home. Marcus Brotherton states that, “Instead of seeing the place he lives only as

the place he hangs his hat, he begins to see the place he lives as a place he influences. He knows
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it’s up to him to make things better.” (Brotherton). Good communication is of the upmost

importance in every family’s household. Open communication can turn people from just living

together to having a wonderful connection. Finally, a conversation can change lives by listening

to others’ mistakes. As I said before, I have learned to learn from other people’s mistakes.

Brotherton also mentions that after his neighbor left from asking them to not shoot bottle rockets

towards his house; they thought he was being a fuddy-duddy and trying to spoil their good time

(Brotherton). The neighbor was in all actuality trying to protect his property that he worked so

hard to acquire. It takes too much time for me to try to learn all on my own the different lessons

of life. So, I try to learn from others. Just recently I asked my dad what his opinion was on a

financial decision that my husband and I are thinking about making. He told me how he thought

it could be good, how it could be bad, and how he would have done it differently if he had a

chance to try again. His thoughts will help me make my decision. Listening to my dad could

change my life.

Also, a good conversation can influence others by talking to the right people. For

instance, I have been shy my whole life. Overbearing anxiety has contributed to my shyness in a

major way. Recently, I have been pushing myself to be more assertive with expressing my

thoughts and opinions. Now I have a good job with great people that I can rely on. All it took

was me talking to the right person who then recommended me for the job. Next, a conversation

can influence others by talking to the right people. When I was a teenager, I thought my friends

were all I needed to talk to. I never paid much attention to my role models that I could learn

from. I think if I would have paid closer attention to my role models, I might have made some

different decisions. A conversation will influence the right people if they are determined enough.
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Lastly, a conversation can be therapeutic if personal details are not repeated to others. To

begin with, everyone needs someone to talk to when the going gets rough. It is nice to talk to

someone that will not repeat what has been confided in them. A therapeutic conversation with

personal details can turn into at the least an awkward situation. I have learned to be careful what

I tell certain people. If I confide in my mom, she will not tell a soul. If I confide in my sister, the

whole town will know. Also, I have learned that a conversation with a stranger can be

therapeutic as well. The stranger has no personal gain in listening so they can listen without bias.

I can feel comfortable confiding to someone who does not know anyone that I know, to tell them

my personal details. I always feel better when I talk about my feelings with someone who really

listens and speaks their opinions as well.

My life has led me to believe that a conversation does have the power to change lives by

listening, talking to the right people, and can also be therapeutic. Conversations can bring

couples closer together. Communicating has the power to help families form strong bonds.

Speaking with the right role models can influence life decisions. A good conversating partner has

the power to be therapeutic. Conversations during my life have certainly influenced my

decisions. I try to remember listening is just as important in a conversation as talking. I will not

know a different viewpoint if I do not listen as well. Conversations are powerful.

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Works Cited

Brotherton, Marcus. “Being a Good Neighbor.” The Art of Manliness, 13 Mar. 2019,

<www.artofmanliness.com/articles/on-being-neighborly/>.