Unsent Letters #1 - Listen

Listening. Something that all young children are taught to do from a young age. Listen to you parents. Listen to you teachers, to adults. Listen! But how come once you’re no longer an adult you no longer need to listen. I’m not saying I’m perfect at listening to others, because I’m not. To say I was would be a lie, but I AM trying to be better at listening, to take to heart what others are saying. But back to the main point, adults and listening. It’s as if the word is no longer in their vocabulary anymore, like it’s just... disappeared. It funny to think that your constantly being told to listen and do what your told, but do you (the person telling you to do this in the first place). Can you honestly say that you listen attentively and speak only once you’ve heard ALL that the other party has to say? Do you listen enough to try and understand what the other person is trying to say before you speak? Most likely not. Here’s what I have to say to you. Listen. Listen to everything I have to say before you give your opinion on the topic. Don’t tell me to stop because you think what you have to say is more important than what I have to say. Who are you to make that judgement anyway? Try and understand what I’m saying and if you don’t just ask and I’ll try and explain. If you think that I’m not listening, ask me before making assumptions. For all you know I could be listening more than you think. I could be trying to understand not just hear. I feel as if with how society is now, we have all lost the art of stopping and just listening. We’ve lost the art to be attentive, to try and understand each other on a deeper level without being so judgemental. We need to stop making assumptions and try and understand each other truly so that there aren’t any misjudgements and miscommunications between people.

So, listening. What is it? It’s to stop and pay attention to what someone has to say. It’s to try and understand without enforcing previous judgements. Listening is to make a connection with someone, to show that you care about what they say and don’t take just for face value but truly value it.

Ellah x