16 Comments
founding

Listening is the most important skill we have. Without it, we lose compassion , mutual understanding, the ability to fully comprehend the world around us. Spending all our listening time on technology, social media, and screens only serves to diminish our humanity and creativity. What we write is a response to all that we learn through both internal and external listening . Thank you for this important reminder, Darcey.

Expand full comment
founding

Thank you for this important reminder, Darcey.

We have been hijacked by technology, social media, screens. With all that “noise”, who can listen to anything ? Listening is the most important skill we have as humans, sometimes even just listening to the silence! ( Best place to find the answers , I think) As a writer, it is a crucial part of the process. Listening to each other and to what our inner self is telling us makes the words appear! ❤️

Expand full comment
author

With all the noise surrounding us, we need to be intentional with what we let in.

Expand full comment
Jun 21Liked by Darcey Gohring

Great job. Love the second quote from Natalie G. As a writer I find that great things can come from the quiet 😊

Expand full comment

I've read this a few times and it really spoke to me!! Especially the end about taking it in...being filled and then releasing it through writing. Reminded me of Mindfulness and the simple act of breathing(inhaling/exhaling) to fully take in the moment. Yeah, I needed to hear this. Thank you💜

Expand full comment
author

So glad it resonated!

Expand full comment
Jun 13Liked by Darcey Gohring

I am finding a way to connect this to my own work as a writing tutor (to an elementary school student, so far more fundamental, but nonetheless...) The one thing I keep telling him is to SLOW DOWN. He has great ideas and is always just bursting to share them, but they get all jumbled and he loses a lot of his (great!) grammar skills on the page. I feel like slowing down, which may very well be my way of telling him to listen... to himself, will really help him make his writing echo what he's able to share verbally. Love this as a reminder to myself, too! Thank you, as always, for sharing!

Expand full comment
author

Interesting. I suppose we all do this in a lot of ways and we all need little reminders. I know I do! A lot of times I find the lessons I am researching and working on for my classes are things I need to work on myself!

Expand full comment

Absolutely on point! I teach this way, too. And when I go into the woods, I'm listening to the world in a way that opens me to a deeper awareness of everything modern life shuts out. If you're interested, listen to the ON BEING interview with Gordon Hempton: https://onbeing.org/programs/gordon-hempton-silence-and-the-presence-of-everything/.

Expand full comment
author

Will listen! Thanks for sharing! I know we see eye to eye on this.

Expand full comment

Yes!!! Often when I’m experiencing writers block or struggling to find my words it’s because I need to close the computer and start listening more

Expand full comment
author

Whenever I feel blocked, I go for a run or a walk. It frees my mind up and allows the creativity to flow again.

Expand full comment

I hear you! Huge aha for me . . . I tend to think of my writing as observational. Love listening aspect.

Expand full comment
author

It's so important!

Expand full comment

Love this!

Expand full comment
author

so glad!

Expand full comment