Baggage?

When we start a new 'career' (or anything we do); we bring baggage with us. We have acquired some characteristics that may not be highly thought of in our new vocation. A person is a product of what he has done, been taught, and his thoughts - and often a combination of them all.
We say OH, I'm not taking this or that with me. I wont do this or that. We think that because it is a new place, and we are starting new, all things are changed. NO - we have a look, an Arie or some other way we tip our hand that we have brought something with us. I have been out of Law Enforcement for 15 years and I still have total strangers coming up to me and say, "You're a COP aren't you?" I have been surprised and asked them how they knew I had been. Their response has been, "I could tell by the way you stand and walk, there is just an Arie about you"; or "There is just something about you that says COP". The best way I can say it is, you have to acquire a new set of 'EARS' and refresh your 'MIND'. This is to mean, listen with a new mind to what you are hearing from the people who are mentoring you and the information you receive via C.D.'s, D.V.D.'s, telephone calls, and seminars you attend. I heard several times, "Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth!" Before I started to understand what was really being said. Sure you hear the words, but do you do what they say? So often we find ourselves just 'listening' so we can get a chance to interrupt what is being said so we can say what we want; and we don't hear what the other person is saying. This says to them; (1) - I don't care what your talking about! (2) - just be quiet so I can talk! These two things will not put you in good stead with anyone who is watching, let alone the person you are trying to be with. Your mind has to be changed also - some more than others. You have prejudices that need to be erased and ideas that need to be set differently. I thought I was selling (I hate selling) so I started to vomit all over some people to get them to buy (what a mess). I have run off more family members than I could afford, now I'm a member of the N.F.L. (No Family (or Friends) Left). If you are talking to someone and they give you that look of, "I think I would rather bury my dead dog than listen to this look!" Stop talking and let them go bury their dog. You have just lost that person and you may never get their attention again, so be careful and listen with all your senses. Watch their eyes, hands and other movements; listen to their sounds (Moans, groans, and words). They are talking to you. When you go to a hall or dinner, look around and see what the other people are doing. Are they 'listening'? I have seen audiences that were in a trance, everyone was looking forward, but if the speaker feel over dead it would take several minutes for it to register. I have also seen people taking massive notes, nodding and sometimes applauding. The speaker has their attention and is communicating. Which type do you want to be?