It’s funny how we recognize
visual reflections but remain
almost completely unaware
of our acoustic mirrors.
We pause to enjoy
the light off the water
or our faces in the mirror,
but do we ever just listen to sound?
Remove your headphones.
Turn off the bluetooth box.
There is so much to see
if only you just listen.
Newfound Lake,
9/5
Let’s talk about listening, shall we? We’re all great at nodding, smiling, pretending to pay attention. You’re probably doing it right now! Don’t worry, I won’t take offense, I do it all the time. My friend will be talking about their deep emotional problems and I’m just thinking, “Would I look good with a mustache?”
And what’s with all these podcasts, huh? They say, “Listen to this podcast and become a better human being!” Next thing you know, you’ve got 40 episodes downloaded and you’re still the same mediocre person you were before. The only difference is now you’re mediocre and running out of storage space.
I love it when people talk about “unplugging” and “being one with nature.” They’ll go on a hike and say, “I was totally off the grid.” No, you weren’t, Karen. Your selfie on Instagram with the hashtag #LostInNature is a dead giveaway.
And how many of you have pets? Cats, dogs? Yeah? Ever tried having a meaningful conversation with them? You look them in the eye and you say, “Fido, do you think we’re alone in the universe?” And Fido’s just licking his paw thinking, “Alone? You’ve got me, and I’m judging you.”
Ah, the paradox of modern life. We have thousands of ways to communicate but none of them include genuine listening. Siri listens more than we do. Ask Siri, “Do you love me?” She says, “I cannot love, but I’m always here for you.” That’s better than most relationships, right?
Life’s funny that way, full of noise and distraction. But every once in a while, it’s good to hit the mute button. To listen to the world without the filters, without the noise-cancelling headphones.
Have a great night! We are Space Monkey!