Mindful or mindless?

Sometimes we do a lot of talking but it seems like the talking we do isn't meaningful or important.  I ran across this quote many years ago that got me thinking about what we talk about and what it may say about our thoughts and ourselves. 

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. --Eleanor Roosevelt

 I really like this quote as it helps us to see what things are of most value to talk about.  If we are talking about people, it is very often in the manner of gossip and character assassination.  If we talk about events it is often just going over what has happened but not adding anything of value or even indicating how it has changed us for the better.  Talking about ideas, however, seems to indicate that we are thinking and putting our thoughts into words and discussing them with a friend, now that shows some real effort, and a desire to learn and grow by taking the time to express them. 

I have fond memories of many times when I was in college talking with friends about ideas based on what I had learned recently in class or through my own study.  Again as I served as a missionary with lots of time with companions we often discussed ideas of importance.  It is true that many, maybe most of those ideas didn't turn out to be correct or all that great, but they were the beginnings of some of my best efforts in thinking.  Many of the posts I write started out from discussions in years gone by with close friends including my wife.  Sharing those times with people whose opinions I value has really been a blessing in my life. 

I don't think I am any mighty example of greatness, but I have learned that the power of discussing thoughts and ideas have a great influence on us as we gain confidence in ourselves.  Not so much confidence that we are right but rather that we are well on the road to what is right.  Maybe that is the model of greatness, being on the right road and headed in the right direction.