The ability to truly listen to others is becoming a lost art in modern society. People used to connect through long conversations on front porches or around campfires. Now busy lives and technology distract us - we look at phones instead of each other. Studies show an epidemic of loneliness, even though people seem "connected" through social media. But posting and scrolling don't provide real human interaction.

Listening creates understanding between people. The author, an experienced journalist, finds her best story ideas come from random conversations when she really listens to someone. She's had profound moments when sources open up about very personal things. Good listening makes people feel heard and less alone. It builds empathy.

But many never learned to listen well. From childhood, "listen" meant obeying rules. Politicians, celebrities and media prioritize talking over listening. Social media and polling try to gauge public opinion, but these are poor substitutes for in-depth personal conversations.

With practice, we can improve our listening and connect meaningfully with others. Listening takes effort, focus and patience. But it is essential for relationships, insight and reducing loneliness. In our distracted world, good listeners are rare - but needed more than ever. The rewards are understanding, wisdom and human connection.