health
I Took Off My Headphones
Slumped on the pavement, she wasn’t breathing – and I wouldn’t have realised if I’d been listening to music as usual. Time to stop blotting out the world …
TL;DR
- The author experienced a moment of realization after noticing a stranger in peril, an event they might have missed if wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
- This incident led to a decision to stop wearing headphones regularly, leading to increased awareness of ambient sounds and conversations.
- While the author gained a greater appreciation for the details of the world, they also became more approachable for public interactions, both welcome and unwelcome.
- The author still uses headphones consciously for specific activities like running or flying, but no longer relies on them as a constant crutch.