Hearing is a sense; listening is a skill

Photo: iqoncept/Bigstock
COVID-19 made the world realize how much we have taken for granted: the fulfillment of social interaction, the warmth of a hug, and how much easier it is to function unmasked. The function I refer to has nothing to do with respiration, and everything to do with communication.
Once seemingly everyone on the planet had a mask covering three-quarters of their face, it became alarmingly obvious how often I “half listened” to what was said. I realized I constantly read lips to fill in the gaps of what I couldn’t hear or fully understand. I would tune in to the tone of the individual’s voice and take note of their expression to see if a comment was a good-natured jab versus authentic vitriol.
This sudden clarity th...