Patty Mayeux Blog

In Third Ear; Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening, Elizabeth Rosner reminds us that listen and silent are anagrams in the English language. Right here, I could end this blog post and leave us to ponder the coincidence of language but more importantly, what is necessary to truly pay attention. From equal letters come different words, different meanings. Yet they are connected. To listen you must be silent. Keep your mouth shut but also turn off mental chatter and visual distractions. Through citations of multi-disciplinary theories, thoughts and quotes, Rosner shares fascinating findings such as how visual attention affects our listening. In an environment with competing sounds, where we look informs what we hear. Where our eyes go, so do our ears.

How often have I “listened” during a virtual or face-to-face conversation while scrolling texts, emails or social media? I heard every word (mostly), could even repeat them (sometimes). That’s not listening. Being physically present is a far cry from being fully and deeply present to the matter at hand. During my next hike (urban or nature), I’ll see where my eyes lead my ears and pay attention to tiny bits of silence. The challenge will be to carry that silence into my next conversation. Otherwise, I won’t be listening.