Healing through words 😄

    The Fine Art of Selective Hearing: My Brain’s Ultimate Noise-Canceling Feature

    What is one thing you can’t live without?

    What is the one thing I cannot live without?”

    I don’t have a hearing problem. I have a very sophisticated filtering system. Unfortunately, it has excellent taste and a terrible work ethic!”
    — The Selective Listener 😜

    Forget coffee, Wi-Fi and chocolate. My real survival essential is selective hearing

    I suspect I was born with a highly advanced sound-filtering system. Unfortunately, it has a mind of its own.

    Let’s get one thing straight. I am not ignoring you. Well, technically I am, but scientifically speaking, my brain has simply outsourced its filters to a higher, more peaceful dimension.

    For instance, someone can call my name five times unnecessary, and I won’t move an eyebrow. But let a packet of chips open somewhere in the house, and I’ll appear like a magician.

    My hearing has three settings:

    Setting 1: Deep Sleep Mode

    “Could you please do something?”

    Silence.

    “Did you hear me?”

    Still silence.

    Setting 2: Superhuman Alert Mode

    “There’s cake in the fridge!”

    Me: “WHAT? WHO BROUGHT IT? IS IT CHOCOLATE?”

    Setting 3: Emergency Shutdown

    Someone begins a long explanation of something I neither understand nor wish to understand.

    My brain: “Thank you for your contribution. This conversation has been automatically deleted.”

    The best part? This wonderful ability allows me to live in complete peace. I don’t hear unnecessary arguments, pointless complaints or unsolicited advice.

    While the world is busy discussing, debating and disagreeing, I’m happily enjoying my own little bubble of silence.

    To the outside observer, selective hearing looks like rudeness or absent-mindedness. To me, it is a necessary mental health firewall.

    Of course, occasionally someone accuses me of not listening.

    What can I say? My ears are not defective. They’re highly selective employees who work only when the subject is interesting.

    And honestly, I wouldn’t give them a salary hike for anything!

    So, what can I not live without? Selective hearing, of course.

    It’s cheaper than therapy, more effective than noise-cancelling headphones and comes with unlimited peace of mind

    24 responses to “The Fine Art of Selective Hearing: My Brain’s Ultimate Noise-Canceling Feature”

      • आपको और आपके परिवार को भी दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं! 🪔 आपके जीवन में दीयों की रोशनी की तरह खुशियाँ, सुख और समृद्धि जगमगाती रहे।

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    5. Meeta, I think I know a few furry and feathered creatures who have mastered this particular superpower! I’m beginning to wonder whether you’ve been whispering training instructions into their ears, because Sir Rambo, Tweety and Russel seem to have exactly the same sophisticated filtering system! 🤣🐾

      I can call Rambo until I’m blue in the face, but let a cheese or cookie wrapper rustle somewhere in the house and suddenly his hearing is restored. Tweety, my youngest son’s African grey can ignore everyone but the minute he smells food, he becomes very vocal and will ask you where is it or he starts thanking everyone. LOL! And Russel, my son’s Jack Russell? Well, I suspect he’s another expert in pretending not to hear until something delicious appears! 😂

      I particularly loved your three settings, especially the automatic deletion of conversations that aren’t worth listening to. I think we could all use that feature occasionally!

      And your description of selective hearing as a mental health firewall had me laughing. Perhaps it’s not a hearing problem at all. Perhaps it’s simply knowing which conversations deserve our attention!

      Thank you for another wonderfully entertaining read, Meeta. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I always love the laughter you bring along.

      Sending a big hug! ❤️🤗

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      • Your comment made my day! 😄 Sir Rambo, Tweety and Russel clearly have the most advanced selective hearing in the animal kingdom. A cookie wrapper rustles and suddenly everyone’s hearing is perfect! And Tweety thanking everyone while hunting for food? That’s genius-level manipulation. 🦜🐾

        I’m so glad the three settings and the “mental health firewall” made you laugh. You’re right, maybe it’s not a hearing problem at all, just wise prioritizing! 😉 And yes, that automatic deletion feature would be a blessing for all of us at times.

        Thank you so much for always reading with such warmth and for the kind words. Your comments are a highlight of my blogging journey, and your own posts bring so much creativity, joy and heart. I’m grateful to have you in my corner. 🌸

        Sending you a big hug right back, and a belly rub to Rambo, a head scratch for Tweety and a pat for Russel.❤️🤗

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        • Meeta, 🤣😅 I think you’ve discovered the secret behind their sophisticated hearing system. A cookie wrapper is apparently more powerful than the loudest calling voice in the household! 🤣

          And Tweety? Oh, he’s a clever one! He can ignore us all afternoon, but the moment food is mentioned, he suddenly becomes the most talkative and grateful bird in the neighborhood. His little “thank yous” are usually followed by a very clear demand to know where the food is! 🦜

          Sir Rambo accepts the belly rub with great dignity, although I suspect he’d prefer a little snack as well. Russel will happily accept his pat, and Tweety sends a loud ‘Wow” in appreciation of his head scratch! ❤️🐾

          Thank you for your lovely words, Meeta. It means a lot to know that my comments bring you joy. I feel exactly the same about your posts. I always enjoy visiting your blog and discovering what you’ve been thinking about. You bring such warmth, creativity and humor to our little blogging community.

          I’m grateful to have you in my corner too, my friend.

          Sending a big hug right back from South Africa! ❤️🤗

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        • Dear Creative Soul, thank you so much for your sweet reply! 🥰 You always make me laugh with how you describe my furry and feathered gang. A cookie wrapper really is stronger than any calling voice in this house! 😂 I’m sure Sir Rambo is still hoping for that snack after his dignified belly rub, and Tweety’s “Wow” was his way of saying thank you for the head scratch. 🦜🐾

          Your kind words touched my heart. Your comments bring me so much joy, and I’m so grateful to have a friend like you in our little blogging community. 💛

          Sending a big hug right back to you in South Africa! 🤗❤️

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    8. This was hilarious! If only I could remember all my tasks for the week at one go, instead of rechecking 5000 times… that would be great! Have a nice day!

      BBB

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      • Dear BBB, thank you so much for stopping by and for your lovely comment! 😄 I’m so glad the post made you laugh. Selective hearing is definitely a talent in our house! 😂

        And I completely understand the rechecking 5000 times part. If only we had a magic list that remembered everything for us! 😉 Hopefully this week treats you kindly and your tasks fall into place.

        Thanks again for your kindness, and have a wonderful day too! 💛

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        • I agree, selective hearing is quite selective in choosing whom should have their hearing intact. Alas, my brain will have to make do without the magic list. Thank you for the compliments & wishes!

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