I have always liked most of the Simon and Garfunkel recordings. Most were at the peak of their popularity when I was in Vietnam. Many over there had radios or even tape recorders and as I walked through the complex, it was common to hear the words, “going home,” or the words to The Sound of Silence.

One of the Recordings is “The Boxer.” It seemed to me a song that was difficult to understand, almost contradicting itself. Though not my favorite of their songs, I do enjoy it. Moreover, there are two lines in the song that I find worthy of paying much attention to.

Still a man hears what he wants to hear
and disregards the rest.

It is much the way it is. When someone says something we don’t like, most of us like to “disregard” it. Right? I call it selective hearing. Some of us are better at than others. Then again, some just simply try harder. Some have more experience.