National Day of Listening

National Day of Listening is right after Thanksgiving and its purpose is to encourage people to become better listeners. It was founded by the American non-profit organization StoryCorps in 2008, with the main mission of preserving and sharing the stories of different segments of the population.

History

The holiday was founded by radio producer David Isay, who was inspired by the stories his grandparents told him as a child. He wanted to create an organization that could capture these stories and store them in a digital archive so that families could listen to them in the future.

Interesting facts

• When someone is listened to, they feel like a valued part of the world.
• StoryCorps has listened to over 600,000 people since its founding.
• Most of the information we learn comes from conversations with other people, rather than books, the Internet, or news feeds.
• The average human ear can listen to 450 words in one minute.
• Listening to stories can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

How to take part

Participating in National Day of Listening is simple. Listen to others and give your full attention to the person you are speaking with. Interview loved ones and record their stories to share on social media. This is a great way to learn more about the people around you and to connect with them on a deeper level.

When is National Day of Listening in 2024?

National Day of Listening is observed on the day after Thanksgiving each year.

Observations