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| NjA Art & Photography |
Romans 15:2
“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
“You cannot Love People without Listening to Them.”
Love begins with listening
Every act of love is rooted in the simple yet profound choice to pay attention. When you truly listen, you signal to someone that their thoughts, feelings, and stories matter. This attentive presence forms the bedrock of trust, intimacy, and genuine connection.
Why Listening is Non-Negotiable?
Presence: Giving undivided focus shows you value the other person’s time and being.
Empathy: Through empathy you step into another’s world, feeling alongside them.
Understanding: Words carry layers — listening uncovers emotions, needs, and unspoken truths.
Validation: Reflecting back what you hear affirms that their inner life is real and reflected.
The Cost of Being Unheard
When people aren’t listening, they drift toward isolation, walls go up, defensiveness takes hold, and love withers under the weight of misunderstanding. Overtime, repeated neglect of listening breeds resentment more poisonous than any harsh word.
Cultivating Deep Listening
✅ Silence Your Inner Narrator Pause judgments and solutions. Let curiosity, not critique lead.
✅ Ask Open-Ended Questions Invite stories, feelings, and reflections rather than yes— no answers.
✅ Mirror and Paraphrase Repeat back key points to confirm accuracy and show your tracking.
✅ Embrace Pause Allow comfortable silences — they give space for deeper truths to emerge.
✅ Notice Nonverbal Cues Eye contact , posture shifts, and tone all reveal what words alone cannot.
Beyond The Conversation
Listening isn’t just about gathering information — it’s a silent pact of mutual openness. When you listen without agenda, you invite the other person to lower their shields. In turn, that vulnerability enriches your bond in ways no grand gesture ever could.
There’s something radically liberating in realizing that life isn’t something you’re owed but a gift you get to unwrap each morning. When you shift your stance from entitlement to gratitude, a few powerful things happen:
“Music gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination,
and
life to everything.”
n Plato
Music trends constantly evolve, reflecting society's tastes, preferences, and cultural influences. Here are some current trends shaping the industry and capturing the attention of music enthusiasts.
Streaming Dominance —The continued growth of music streaming platforms is changing how people consume music, influencing music discovery, artist promotion, and industry revenue models.
Global Sounds and Crossover Hits —The popularity of global music influences, cross-cultural collaborations, and international artists breaking into mainstream markets with multilingual tracks.
Rise of Indie and DIY Artists — Independent and DIY artists are gaining recognition and success through digital platforms, social media, and grassroots marketing strategies, challenging traditional music industry models.
Virtual Concerts and Live Streaming —The trend of virtual concerts, live-streaming performances, and interactive fan experiences facilitated by technology is especially prevalent when in-person events are limited.
Nostalgia and Throwback Vibes — There have been revivals of retro music styles, nostalgia for the '90s and early 2000s, and artists incorporating elements of past musical eras into their modern sounds.
Diverse Representation— Increasing representation of eclectic artists and marginalized communities in the music industry leads to more inclusive and authentic narratives in music.
Collaborations Across Genres — Collaborative projects between artists from different genres result in unique fusions of sounds and expand creative boundaries within the music landscape.
Socially Conscious Music — Artists use their platforms to address social issues, advocate for change, and raise awareness about critical societal topics through music and activism.
Innovative Production Techniques — Advancements in music production technology, the use of AI in music creation, experimental sound design, and unconventional recording methods are pushing the boundaries of music production.
These trends reflect the dynamic nature of the music industry, showcasing a blend of innovation, creativity, cultural diversity, and a response to the changing ways music is created and consumed in the modern era.
Photo by pexels.com
"Success is like climbing a mountain,
you have to work as a team,
face obstacles and bad weather,
but no matter what,
we always reach the top."
Martin Paquette
"The higher the mountain,
the deeper the valley"
Alsatian proverb
"Between the shores of the oceans
and the summit of the highest mountain
is a secret road that you must travel
before you become one with the sons
of the Earth."
Khalil Gibran
"When you have walked for two hours
on a mountain, you are smarter."
Coline Serreau
The will allows to climb on the summits;
without will, one remains at the foot
of the mountain."
Chinese Proverb
"Culture is the source of all creativity.
That of geography and the history of
mountaineering makes us look at the
Alpine arc as an evidence, a beauty,
a line to follow. A line, not the line!
Like a line in a face."
Patrick Bérhault
"Every lake belongs to the quietness
desired by the swans."
– Munia Khan
"The still waters of a lake reflect
the beauty around it.
When the mind is still,
the beauty of the Self is seen
reflected in it."
– B.K.S Iyengar
"Find a calm lake and wait for
the twilight in silence!
There, Existence will visit you with
all its magnificence!
The Existence of the Existence can best
be felt in the presence of dimness
and in the absence of crowds and noises!"
– Mehmet Murat ildan
