Listening relieves the pressure of speaking. Reflecting on a quote by Tolstoy

The Russian novelist Tolstoy left us these words: “Words are created not by speaking, but by listening.”

When you have a stutter, it is easy to focus on the internal battle of “how to speak” or “how to rephrase.” But communication is not something you do alone.

Truly accepting the other person's words—that “listening attitude” may, in the end, make your own words deeper.

The Toyohashi Genyuukai is a group for people who stutter. There are no specialists here to treat stuttering. Instead, there are peers who will listen to your “desire to speak” and your “frustration of not being able to say it” as if it were their own.

There is no need to force yourself to speak fluently. Why not take the first step by just “coming to listen”?

■ Next Stuttering Consultation Meeting

• Date and Time: February 22 (Sun) 14:00–17:00

• Location: Ai-topia Toyohashi *Conveniently located in front of the Maebata tram stop

• Participation Fee: Free

• Registration: toyohashi.genyuukai@gmail.com