Tuned In: Days in Silence
After a few months of constant work, never-ending notifications, and being part of the constant stream of web3 I found myself in a sea of noise. A deep part of me called for me to spend time in complete silence— I listened. On December 26 and 27, 2021 I spent these two days at home in Miami in complete silence without books, internet, music, and distractions. The only things I invited were a blank journal, a few prompt questions, and the essay, “Self Reliance” written by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1841. The below is one of the reflections I wrote after breaking my silence.
The spoken word requires a lot of energy for its use. This is why we must be discerning when we use it: it can create, it can destroy, it can heal, it can hurt.
At every point of choice to use the spoken word, always choose love.
I am finally understanding how carefree I was with my words— how I used them like a firehose at every instance I could: In excitement, in love, in hurt, in pain, in rage, in peace, and in calm.
The words just flowed through me—
without a filter of sorts.
I am grateful for those moments as they brought me here to this old wise understanding of choosing words wisely. A knowing.
I now understand that and Integrate that in the deepest core of my soul and being.
Now looking back and reflecting, words have always been inviting me to be intentional with their use. At time, I picked up the invitation gladly with enthusiasm for the moment. Others, I must be honest I scrolled past through them in exchange for the too costly price of cheap dopamine.
Silence is practice.
and if you are tuned enough you’ll hear how loudly silence speaks.
I’ve always had a hint that the unsaid said so much— the look, the gesture, the intention.
I was tuned in enough to hear it but not enough to listen.
Now through this journey, I am here listening at all that silence is saying.
Sometimes it’s what is not being said that is important.
I embrace silence as my practice.
I integrate silence as my practice.
I use the spoken word intentionally, lovingly, and kindly.
I use the spoken word in practice, not pretending.
I embrace the silence and the spoken word just the same, as equals who are matched by action.
I am grateful for the wisdom of this practice, I am energized for my new and deeper understanding of silence and the spoken word.
Miami, FL 12.27.21
