The Power Of Paying Attention
According to Peggy Ramin in the This I Believe essay “Learning To Listen” listening and hearing other is the key to happiness and fulfillment. Many people speak without listening just so others could listen but when you listen to these people speaking you have to focus yourself into a certain position where you would be able to give back positive feedback to your speaker. According to Peggy “I believe that a person should know when to close her mouth, sit back, and focus on someone else. I believe in listening.” I agree with many points that peggy focus’ on due to the fact that I have been through some of them before.
In my opinion I agree with what Peggy had to say in the essay. She had many personal and emotional points she spoke on to make the reader feel closer to the writer. When you're speaking you deserve the right to speak and be listened to even if you dislike the person. I agree with this topic because not many people who are going through issues want to interrupt someone just because they aren't listening and want correct feedback. Peggy is a Native Marylander which is currently living and working in Manhattan forThe New York Civil Liberties Union.
According to Peggy Ramin in the essay “Learning To Listen” listening and hearing other is the key to happiness and fulfillment. Peggy volunteered at a HIV+ clinic where the patients would go and talk to people so they would talk to her and all she did was listen and give her advice when she needed to. Peggy went from a very violent and confrontational environment with her family to this very peaceful and sad place where the patients would tell their stories and welcome Peggy into their heart. Peggy said “I might have missed the moment a little girl at one of Noah’s community centers, orphaned at the tender age of three, whispered after a long silence, “I love you.” I might have missed that, had I not learned to listen.” This part of the essay really captured my heart and made me smile because it proved that they cared dearly for her.
I believe that a person should know when to close her mouth, sit back, and focus on someone else. This is a concept I understand and will continue to understand for as long as I remember. In conclusion, this essay helped me understand what the difference between hearing and listening is.
