How You Say Things and What I Hear

Article Link: What You're Saying When You Say "I Don't Need a Mic."

There is nothing more spiritual or theological for any of us than compassion and moral imaginations to plan and improve our ability to connect. Hearing is not about volume; it is about discernment. Hmmm....
There is nothing more or less illustrative of linked oppression and white fragility than considering how a message is actually and scientifically and biologically received.

I'm commenting on this as a non-anonymous person who is under 65 year old who does not have 20/20 (or whatever it is called).

I'll also speak on behalf of my daughter who has worn devices since childhood.

I guess I'm also speaking for 3 siblings who suffered cruel treatment in the 50s, 60s, 70s.... (although they will never know I am speaking for them....)

I'll speak for my outspoken mother (who still shouts at me, off mic, from her heaven) and eventually my humble father (who still pats and rubs my neck from his heaven).

I'm speaking for dear, whole people who make me laugh with faux pas and snafus-of-the-day, as we store up tickling vibration in our hearts and belly.

So lets back it up to every bit of daily life as humans that has nothing to do with being on mic....
...like everyday transactions
...like conversation
...like webinars without subtitles or preference of the star hosts
...like live subtitling from other continents (as if that's enough)
...like watching an Important Film Together and not considering sound quality until it's too late 
...like the trendy but lasting hipster/NPRster /all-gendered-but-particularly-women who think vocal fry sounds casually intelligent, and liberated, AND sexy (while scientifically and mechanically a foolish misuse and harm of voice, as well as distortion of "giving voice" of the throat chakra)

But I get by and I'm not embarrassed by being hearing impaired. In fact, I have enough self confidence to have compassion for Those I Cannot Hear because I "see" their discomfort and self consciousness of trying to multitask delivering, perhaps, well wrought and rehearsed words but never practicing Being Heard. Tsk. Tsk.

Sometimes I end my day of interacting with humans -- and being human -- quite early. I go into my sacred and creative sanctum to listen to what My World has to say. It is there that there is no time and no mic, only vibrations that pass through my heart's eye and ear.

I'm tired of missing the add-on very tender comments that I only know were spoken because I FEEL the collective "mmmmmm," and the sympathetic, pursed lipped sigh.

I'm tired of missed the spontaneous add on joke that makes a room or arena rumble with laughter (and then I ask someone next me..."what was that?" and the person holds up their finger as if i'm interrupting and mouths, "...tell you later...."

I'm tired of the elite valuing intellect over non-complicated warmth and connection.

I'm tired of beautiful spaces with high, antique ceilings.

I'm tired of new spaces with hip industrial looks and echo chambers that make my hearing aides torque and screech in my ear.

I'm very tired of lips that don't have muscle tone.

I'm very tired of áffect.

I'm tired of people who try to tell me that the sound system is on AND working and maybe I should sit up front.

I'm tired of being corrected when I said, "I am hearing impaired," and self-appointed PC cops say, 'hard of hearing'."

I'm tired these days to show up most places where there is a mic because we haven't progressed in our motivation -- and thus technical skill -- at projecting our prophecy to those who aren't already in our fan club.

I'm tired of the warnings of my brain going mush and being more susceptible to alzheimers* or dementia if I don't amplify when I try to accept my fate and living my days with softer sounds (but more brilliant colors and interesting vibrations and tastes and textures).

*I'm also more than fed up with anything being named after a male rather than something descriptive and simple because lordy knows if we spell something wrong b/c so many people suffer from severe irritation and anger because of the sensitivity to misspellings and incorreck grammerrrrrr (but that is a topic for others who are not as tired or self-promoting).

I'm very tired of being a person/facilitator/leader with a milder disability and a sense of humor about it ( I could write a book but won't because the humor has come only after some serious, serious tragedies of relationship in my life).

I am fed up with holding myself to a spirit of generosity while the the #UUSelfie culture races to being the 'most followed commentator of the week,' even when the commentary is petty and irreverent and snarky.

I am no longer willing to accept the notion of "meeting people where they are" because it's just/ification code for white fragility and absolute inaction.

I am worried when I find myself never forgetting (nor forgiving) outrageous Things That Have Been Said to Me (even in a performance evaluation by so-called spiritual heads of staff) along the lines of:
......"Anne has to take responsibility for her hearing challenges." And it gets worse.

True facts, for me  <----- 

I'm tried of trying to hear, and that's even before listening.

I am too tired to be angry or sad.

I am ever-praying because our individual anxiety and insecurity robs every single one of us of capacity for true and humble, life-long learning, on the ground.

I am more regularly appreciative of the gifts of sustenance and wealth that defy social capital and economic security.

I am blessed with relentless curiosity and desire for love and laughter and play and witness in the most hidden and joyful of places, with people that take my titles and words and breath away.

I am scared to run out of time to feel and act, with greater purpose.

I am in service to the unmistakable of grace.

I am willing to just walk over the eggshells and take pictures of the designs and call it art. That's exactly what I do for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is my level of hearing.

r u and u and uu?