5th through 12th grade has somewhat blurred together, probably since I was at the same school the entire time. I don’t remember when I was asked the age old question – If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound. Being the over analytical dork that I was/am I had a logical response. It makes a noise, not a sound. Noise is vibration, sound is perception. So have you ever felt like you were standing on the edge of a cliff screaming into the void and wondering if you were making a noise or a sound. And yes I know by standing there screaming you perceive your own vocalizations so by my definition you are making sound. But take yourself out of the equation. I know this sounds like an existential question of crisis. I haven’t lost faith in G-d or like that. It’s people I am wondering about. Sure they perceive the sound, but does anyone actually hear anyone else? I used to think so, but lately I wonder. Do I hear you through my own perceptions, do you here me? Are we all just making noise, nothing more than the semblance of sound. And before anyone starts doing wellness checks on me, I feel fantastic. I just wonder how often we truly listen to one another. How many friendships are truly based in mutual understanding and appreciation. I would guess fewer than most of us think. So Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) has passed and I made no real resolutions this year. But I am going to change that now. My job this year is to focus on hearing sound/words/meaning this year. From everyone. I make a choice to try and hear you. I am human so I use the word try, but that is my goal, my resolution.
© 2012, Corey Feldman. All rights reserved.
A great resolution Corey! I think truly trying to understand what someone is saying is the biggest gift you can give.
I would argue that there is also a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing something does not mean you have necessarily processed it and tried to understand what the person is trying to articulate only that you have heard it and maybe interpreted it through your own experiences. Real listening requires empathy and means that you are trying to understand what that person is saying from their perspective.
Gilly
Gilly recently posted…The Jigsaw Puzzle Of Life
Thanks Gilly. While processing and perceiving are different things, I took some artistic license and conflated them. That is exactly what I mean. I also agree empathy is critical.
Corey Feldman recently posted…Egret the Elephant volume 1 for free
Well currently I’m unusually pessimistic given my normal outlook on life and people. What I feel like I’m learning is that people hear what they want to hear. They take your words and they mold them to be what they need them to be. And sometimes that’s negative because they need an antagonist, they need to feel victimized to be comforted and so your words are twisted. And sometimes people misinterpret you because they want to bring you down because they’re feeling insecure and jealous. And sometimes they hear you correct because they need your love and want to return it. And sometimes they just don’t hear or see you at all.
Marta recently posted…Lessons.
I do agree, sadly. Not all the time, but it is all too common.
Corey Feldman recently posted…Egret the Elephant volume 1 for free