One Apple A Day #886 - Reading the air
A few days ago, I attended to a fascinating conversation about Japanese culture. Among the many things shared, one struck me in particular.
It's a Japanese saying; "Ba no kuuki wo yomu".
Literally, it means "reading the air".
It refers to the ability to "understand a situation without words" or "sense someone's feelings."
It looks like that in Japan, it is vital to learn to listen and communicate beyond words and gestures. You must always be fully aware of the situations, noticing the thoughts, feelings, and needs of the people around you without them expressing verbally.
It is probably similar to what we mean with "reading between the line".
It may be a Japanese concept, but I feel it's something we should all practice. We've learned to rely so much on data and information that we dulled our ability to sense. We struggle to sense what happens inside and around us. A skill that our ancestors, equipped with far less knowledge, had to master if they were not only to thrive but, often, to survive.