Let’s work on not talking to our friends in shul, especially during the Torah reading, chazaratz Hashatz and other times that it is forbidden to speak.   I won’t discuss the scary things Chazal say about one who violates these halachot, but instead discuss the blessings one receives for keeping them.  For instance, the Tosfos Yom Tov promises that one who does not talk during davening will be subject to all the blessings in the Torah, will be saved from illness, have healthy children who are Torah observant, who will get married, do good deeds and always serve Hashem truthfully.

Even if you have been talking during davening your whole life, if you have the urge this Shabbos to do the same, and you actually refrain from doing so, that is complete teshuvah!!  All those sins will transform into mitzvos! 

To help fight the urge and discourage others from talking to you, try putting your finger on the place and following along in your siddur with the chazzan or bal korei.   Another idea is to close your eyes during chazaratz hashatz.  Treat it like a second shemona esrei where you can just concentrate while the chazzan is saying the words.   I was doing this for a while and actually looked forward to going to minyan for this reason.  This is a good reminder to myself to start doing that again.