Listening…
Yesterday’s blog entry I have let you known my fear. And I am glad and grateful at the same time for understanding and loving me despite of it all. The love and care that you have shown makes me feel lighter. The burden lifted from my heart.
Today I am facing another day but this time not with fear, instead with a bright smile on my face and hope in my heart. No, I am not afraid anymore. Life is too short to waste by wallowing in the waters of doubt. More than ever, I came out strong and happier. Your words raised me out of the muddy waters I am submerged in. Thank you my friends for standing by my side, giving me support and hope.
For the moment, I would like to tell you about listening. Yes, listening. It is different than hearing. Hearing is a sense and for me I can call listening as a skill. It is actually an understanding skill. A lot of people can hear but I few only listen. When you say words, did they actually understood what they meant or did it just passed through their ear and come out in the other? There lies the difference.
Hearing means that you just heard what was said. The words just comes to you with no essence nor feelings. For those who hear, what was said is insubstantial. It was just taken but not felt or truly understood what lies behind it. Nothing… the words just comes as nothing, plain words.
Listening means that you not only heard what was said but also taken it into your system. The words comes to you with substance, there is meaning. For those who listen, it just didn’t go to their ears but also in their hearts and minds. For them, the words they have heard got sense and it is truly felt.
That is my point of view when it comes to the difference of those two things. You can say that a person truly listened when there is action taken after hearing what you have to say. Yes, there could be changes… sooner or later.
For myself, I cannot deny that there are times that I just hear. I ignored what was said because it doesn’t affect me or I don’t understand a thing at all. There are times that I don’t want to hear about it and have taken those words for granted. I only listen when I want to or when I feel that there something lies underneath of it all. I listen when I can relate myself and when I feel it is essential for me.
Not only can you listen to words, there are a lot of things that you can listen to and find yourself lost in it. The flow of water in a river or brook, rhythms of music, birds chirping and singing, raindrops falling on the rooftop, waves rushing to the shore, leaves rustling in the wind, a heart beating and in silence.
Take time to listen, you might find out more than what you are expecting. As for me, I would like to thank you all for listening to my heart through the words I write here. For you my friends have not just lent your eyes but also your heart. Yes, the best listening part of a man’s body is his heart.
