An Ear to Listen...

 An Ear to Listen  ........

- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali
Hubli.

Hearing is one of the 5 senses gifted by Nature to all .
Fetus hears voices in the womb  .A newborn recognizes the Mother by her voice first.
A baby initially understands the surroundings first by sounds......it's only later words formulate and speech forms them into sentences.......
We " Hear" many things........
But do we " Listen "........
A child before hears everyone and everything around him before he begins to talk.But as soon as he starts" talking ."....he stops "listening "......
In the rat race of life,we hear a cacophony of voices and noises around us.......
But we don't have the time to " Listen "......
To Listen to the loving words our dear ones.....
To Listen to the sound of the beautiful Nature around us........
I am in medical profession for so many years.
Before, the era of Medicine was the dear " Family Physician" who used to have a quaint clinic in the neighborhood.
Doctor Uncle was a dear Family member of every house in the neighborhood. Doctor Uncle would patiently " Listen " to the new bride talk about her anxieties in a new surroundings and new family.
A new Mother talking animated lyrics about her newborn.
A Mother in law about her Daughter in law....
More than the illness,the Family Physician " Lent" his ears to the feelings buried inside........
But today,Medicine is ruled by Super Specialists....and over burdened Doctors.
History taking ,investigations and prescriptions......the conversation between a Clinician and his patient doesn't go beyond this.......
I am an Anaesthesiologist. My conversation is limited to few routine questions asked to every patient.....
Before the patient strikes a conversation with me...he is anaesthetised and put to sleep.......
Today, Mobile phones in our hands and Social media, Reels,Instagram in our minds......
The vision is given utmost importance.
What we see.....over rides what we Listen.
Songs are heard but lyrics and emotions are never listened......
OTT platform,Reels show us exciting things  ......but our memories have become short spanned.
We hear a a a lot.....but our short span of memory refuses to imbibe thoughts.
We donate money,clothes, ....
We share videos, forwards,knowledge......
But do we " Lend an Ear"......
In journey of life,....we hardly Listen......
Immersed in our Mobiles......Sucked into our Hectic Lifestyles......
We rarely have time to " Listen ".......
It's only when I thought of penning down my Anaesthesia journey.......did I actually make a concious effort to " Listen "......
To realize every person had a story to tell.

Dear Friends,
As a child " Listen ".....
To your grandparents....they have cherishing memories of past to tell......about the lost times....and lost friends.
To your parents....their words show their concern and love towards us.
To your teachers....as they share their knowledge, experience and skills with us.
As a Parent,....Listen to your child.....as their words convey their anxieties, insecurities and passion.......
As a Stranger,.....Listen to a Random traveller......their words are searching for a non judgemental Ear.......where they can lighten their anxious emotionally Heavy minds.......
If we  actually make an effort to just " Listen ".......the percentage of mental stress, anxiety, depression, suicides would surely come down.
Not  every spoken word is important. ....
Not every formed sentence relevant......
Not every conversation needs to be judged.......or solutions found......
Just Listen.....
Lend that Ear to simply listen.......