Listening Closer

Abstract

To hear is a simple act but to listen is to react. Our bodies register sensory experiences before the mind becomes aware of it. When our body listens with its ears, eyes, heart and the rest of its limbs, it functions as a lyrical instrument. This lyrical instrument receives and translates sound into the body language. Our bodies can register sounds outside the human hearing range, detect vibrations, and even sense another person's emotions. As translators, our bodies have the tools to receive sounds and interpret them. We use this all the time, voluntarily and involuntarily, to face someone when speaking, to step forward to offer help, to flinch when a loud noise startles us, to tap our feet to the beat of music and so on. Noticing how our bodies respond demands attention and practice. The first step is to listen.