Especially when you write, I think, you become cognizant of the little threads carrying us along everywhere, tying us together and linking us up. - Naomi Shihab Nye

Some people let their countries become their religions and that didn't work either. (p174)

Right then he knew that moment was clearly written in his brain forever. (p170)

Perhaps we have more voices in the air now-on TV, in our phones and computers and little saved videos-but are we able to hear them as well? Are these the voices we really need? Is our listening life-space deep enough? Can we tell ourselves when we need to walk away from chatter, turn it off entirely for half a day, or a full day, or a whole weekend, ease into a realm of something slower, but more tangible? Can we go outside and listen?