A master listener

In St. Petersburg, Fla., when Al Nixon started coming to a park bench seven years ago, he needed a quiet place to clear his head. Today, he's providing impromptu therapy sessions, as a trusted confidant and counselor to whoever passes by, simply by demonstrating his skill at listening. Steve Hartman reports.
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[@Anastasiabeaverhausen275]

Beautiful story and beautiful man

[@moonlightmistandmemories9623]

Kindness really does make a difference ...

[@ninastone9054]

Thank you for posting pieces like this. I am worn out with the current events of the world. Something positive is so welcome

[@patsylvest]

My heroes are people like Al. Thank you, Steve, for finding the people who inspire us.

[@chrisgreen1904]

Please more news stories like this. We all need the positivity right now 🙏

[@annleslie7826]

I have met and talked with Al Nixon. He is a sweet caring man and yes, a great listener. 🌻

[@LR-mh8hs]

More stories like these, please.

[@d.koehler4187]

I can't always count on CBS Sunday Morning for heart warming stories

[@elizabethmills8667]

Yes We need more Listener's Thank you for listening to him and reporting this

[@everycoLor_312]

I was told in my 20s, "Always speak, acknowledge people's presence." I live this way still.

[@dianeyoung8068]

That is a powerful piece of advice.

[@richmoves]

When this faded to the sun art at the end I said to myself out loud "where does Steve get all these great stories from?!". He's such a master storyteller. 🧡

[@dijonrolle1846]

Agreed. He always finds the stuff that pulls at your heart strings. Steve has a gift.

[@ediebaxter6194]

Awesome men. Amen

[@bobbiema6671]

I've watched him since he began, and I've never been underwhelmed once. I just don't understand his magic formula for finding his humans to tell their stories. That's a precious story in itself. Thank you Steve.

[@sydneyevans2637]

Don't know you but I love you, Al !!! Humanity is not out of fashion.

[@patriciagurwitz509]

If we had more ALs in this world life would be so much better...❤️❤️🙏🏽

[@jimdavis928]

Tears are in my eyes. What a truly wonderful human being and listener. Role model for all of us!! Thank you, Steve!!!

[@darlataddeo6376]

This man is an angel on earth!!! He is scattering kindness- how lovely.

[@jeanetteschock4744]

Love Steve Hartman

[@juls7582]

Al, you’re a good man. 🥰 Whenever I leave my apartment I always smile and wave to anyone who walks by. Some folks look at me like I’m crazy…and others smile and wave back. Just one small kind gesture can change a person’s day for the better.

[@carmelaszymanski8104]

Such A Simple thing to do.. LISTEN..Just LISTEN.. To One Another.. Love Matters..

[@panchamama]

Love to Al..and Steve

[@marknc9616]

A big concept in this is simply "being there". People will generally work through their own problems. They like to see someone who is a comforting, regular presence in their lives.

[@P2K-24]

Steve Hartman is definitely a Master Listener. Thanks for another beautiful story.

[@heidihill3073]

After watching your segment regarding Al, It gave me hope for mankind.

[@petagaymacmillan9449]

Sunday morning. The absolute. Best. Listening is an art for sure. Thank you Al.

[@petagaymacmillan9449]

I adore this interviewer. He has the ability to bring me to tears. Every time.

[@sherischutzen49]

You make the world better for being in it

[@genagena127]

To sit and listen has been a dream of mine for sometime. This is wonderful!

[@genagena127]

Maybe we should start an inspired revolution! City-wide. I will

[@kj2183]

sometimes, listening is all we need; it’s a powerful and cleansing feeling to be able to just talk to someone without judgment or advise

[@flangekiwi]

NOT talking and Listening are different things. Al gets this.👍🏽 Have a nice day Al, and all my fellow humans out there ❤ from me, in Aotearoa New Zealand 💗

[@universalheartstring]

I'm going to try to be Al. He's my role model

[@pamzibell6309]

I love Steve and so glad he came to our great city. Wish i had known, I would love to meet him.😁

[@d.koehler4187]

"To be interesting, be interested." ~ Dale Carnegie

[@mikeydan]

Love me some Al. And ALWAYS, love me some Steve Hartman.

[@BsmizRants]

so amazing

[@Burps___]

The way Al sits on the bench is not only casual, but is inviting and open. #bodylanguage

[@milliemouse6525]

OMG! That sounds like me! I'm not bragging but as an ESL instructor, most of my loyal students are the ones who tell me their personal and career problems. I have been their sounding board mostly because they know all too well that I will never reveal what they said to me. I have helped them see what they should think about doing through their emotional fog - all in English of course - and they have always come back to thank me. The trick is to listen, not judge and get them to see what they really want to do (without telling them to do it) and what is best for them. We can all do that, just shut your mouth and listen!

[@skylerthecreative2164]

I'm not crying your crying:)

[@heritagekarma888]

Most people do not listen to understand any longer......They listen just long enough to respond with their opinion. Iphones have taught us that people now know everything but understand very little.

[@cynthiaahern9081]

Perfectly said!

[@randomdude6378]

there is so much information easily accessible today, but such little knowledge…

[@sherriedentley600]

AMEN

[@chrisfinch8637]

There’s a bike path I often walk on, and to use for therapy, I often listen to either Enya, Ken Elkinson, Enigma, or even the score to Coppola’s Koyaanisqatsi.

[@alexsanders7404]

So sweet.

[@peacenow4456]

Beauty in a soul, right there.

[@justicejoycetv]

Heyyyy! *So glad to see this process. There are cities trying this process of having folks talk to each other and listening to one another. I'd enjoy his advice since losing my father.*

[@lindagardenlady]

"You matter to me." Love wins!!♥️♥️

[@mariandelion7672]

This sounds like my grandma. She'll be out of the house for two minutes and when she comes back she knows the entire life story and criminal record of the guy walking his dog.

[@janiceisaacs6755]

❤❤❤

[@alexeimscruz2893]

I live by that and I believe in that, listening to other people's concerns, just listening and not be judgmental or anything... the benefits are that hearing people out releases all the pent-up tensions and stress the speakers has in them... you don't have to come up with the answers to their problems because most of the time, by speaking your mind, you yourself come up with the answers to your problems... and this has happened most of the time in my encounters with strangers while I was doing my Uber back then before the pandemic... and this also give some satisfaction & relief to the listener... I know of what I speak because I have been at both sides of the fence, both as speaker & listener

[@demode2000]

I need an Al on the west coast 😊

[@johnking8724]

as my father once stated "Hard to Listen, When YOUR LIPS are MOVING" !

[@kathleenweller9682]

Seriously, what kind of sad, soulless person taps the thumbs down on this post?!? It HAS to be bots. God bless you Al.

[@amyhayslettrealtor1901]

This is awesome

[@chriswright8464]

He reminded me of my woodshop teacher Mr. Russell.

[@kinsmed]

I'd subscribe to an all-Steve Hartman KZbin channel.

[@carmensantana1374]

Sometimes people just want to be heard......

[@kathysquared]

Many years ago, the good sisters taught us we have two ears and only one mouth, therefore we need to listen twice as much as we talk.

[@jasoncarr5379]

5000 gods love this man! Truth!

[@miltonbrown5764]

Hello to all, apparently Al has touched a lot of people. I just saw this same story on another network morning show. Very moving story, something that got my attention is Al's smile. It is a great smile, but you don't see his teeth. It could be that Al needs dentures. Wouldn't it be nice if the Sunday Morning show leveraged its resources to facilitate providing Mr. Al Nixon the dental work he may need. That would really excel this story. I am willing to help, and I am hopeful other people will help as well.

[@julesotis13]

awsome yes news should sahre more such stories amidst the.... thanks

[@jeannebartow2422]

Everyone needs an Al 😭

[@buddyjohn]

Now if everyone would just lower the f'n rent a little bit, we could all set around smile & nod all day

[@katherineyokers8052]

Amen. ♥️

[@danielpiazza4036]

More news like this pls ffs! Awesome.

[@katel3962]

I'm not crying, you're crying 😥

[@elsajohnson6663]

But who is listening to Al!?

[@P2K-24]

Faith

[@MM-pj4bl]

All I want in life is to be an Al

[@fuzzyflick9905]

WOW WOOOOF 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏☮️🐕🐾

[@Worldpeace353]

I think I'll do this too I love to Listen.. To People 💕

[@xs5783]

Good Morning :)

[@xs5783]

Checkings Reaches At My Eyes 8/

[@ManChan-w5p]

Vinoy Park St. Petersburg Pinellas County Florida.

[@pilarmorin4405]

Perfect... 0

[@babybro70]

Sweer~

[@brucelee4996]

I don't think the younger generation understands what "listening" means.

[@chums916]

What a joke lol!!!!!! He's technically dangerous.