“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen you may learn
something new.”
– Dalai Lama
We celebrate World Listening Day on 18 July every year. The theme for World Listening Day 2022 is “Listening Across Boundaries”. It invites us to explore the role of listening across branches of knowledge and natural soundscapes.
Listening is indeed an art that requires undivided attention and patience from a person and benefits another who is in need of it. Listening is also beneficial for the listener, improving their listening skills and sharpening the awareness of their surroundings. With the hustle and bustle of daily life, we rarely stop to not just hear but actually listen to our surroundings — the sounds around us, what other people are trying to communicate, and even our inner voice. Technology and non-stop hustling prevents us from shutting out the noise and listening intently. On World Listening Day, this is exactly what is practiced.
