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So the word of the year, according to Chambers Dictionary, is “over-share” - and you may wish to be careful: the definition is “to be unacceptably forthcoming with information about one’s personal life”. And it’s most commonly used as a put-down. I wonder if you’ve been guilty of over-sharing recently - especially online, where it’s become almost de rigueur. Hurray, we might say - let’s put an end to all this personal revelation! ... how a music album makes me feel, or how much we really, really love our partner. It does seem to be true what the dictionary editors say, that we’re revealing more now than we ever have done before. And it can be toe-curling. I can think of plenty of things I’ve read that I’d be tempted to label as “overshare” - as well as one or two I may have posted myself. But there has to be a reason for our increasing desire to reveal more of ourselves online, doesn’t there? And I think it’s because most of us remain reluctant to do so face-to-face - as a nation, we’re still pretty buttoned up - and on top of that, and more poignantly, while the media’s always asking us to text or tweet our comments, does anyone truly care? When was the last time someone took a genuine interest in your story? There is a story in all of us, wanting, needing to be heard, if only someone would listen. I’ve guided many retreats and from my own experience, the moment you pause to listen well to someone, they almost can’t help but share more of who they are, deeper down. It’s a perfectly human impulse. And true sharing isn’t touchy-feely, either. One expert in geopolitical conflict resolution, Russ Parker, says that listening is the best weapon we can use against conflict. That, and helping people to know that their story has been heard. And for this, we need more than just a “like” button on our social media feeds. I suppose if we listened more, face to face - at home, or with friends, or colleagues, then fewer of us may feel the need to risk over-sharing quite so publicly as a result. “Let your words be few,” says that great Biblical book of wisdom, Ecclesiastes. Which is sage advice. When we reduce our word count, we make space to listen. And we imbue our own words, when we choose to speak, or write, with greater worth. I admit, I’m not so interested in the trivia of what my friends or family may be having for supper tonight - but seeing any deeper kind of over-sharing self-revelation, online, could remind me next time not to put someone down with the word of the year, but to pick them up instead, to meet, and to listen.