Silence is Golden
I have never appreciated being able to communicate quite like I did during my Vow of Silence. From Midnight of March 19th until midnight of the 21st, I did not speak. Well okay, I did not mean to speak. I did slip up once or twice, but for the majority of the time I remained silent.
The question now arises, who would voluntarily go through a trial like this? Well, I would! Among many reasons, there are two I am willing to share.
The first, the more obvious, was to raise money. Through my silence I raised awareness and over $100 that will go to build a school in Sierra Leone. The silence was symbolic of the unheard voices of children unable to move beyond their standings in life. The group, Free the Children, use the money they receive for several different projects involving self-sustaining living environments focusing on the children within those communities.
The second, a personal challenge. Being silent for a full 48 hours is difficult; if you don’t believe me try it! I set high goals for myself. My first guidelines involved no gesturing, writing (other than class notes), or verbal speaking. I would simply float through the days just breathing, eating and listening. I really wanted to experience being ostracized, and it worked! So well in fact after about 6 hours, I gave that in and started gesturing. The following day, when I got really frustrated I even wrote.
The inability to communicate is terrible. I haven’t experienced anything like it before. Much of the time, I actually was participating in the conversations around me, all within my head. I had to question myself if it was my inside or outside voice. Even now that I am speaking again, I second-guess myself. The point was made. Only after this experience, do I have any inclination of what it fills like to be stuck in a situation without much chance of escape. However, mine was escapable at any minute I could scream if I needed or change the circumstances I was in. I am thankful I had the support of those around me, cheering me on, making me laugh, and just being there when I was aggravated.
I am not sure if I will ever go silent in this manor again, but I am thankful of the knowledge and compassion I gained from it.
I have never appreciated being able to communicate quite like I did during my Vow of Silence. From Midnight of March 19th until midnight of the 21st, I did not speak. Well okay, I did not mean to speak. I did slip up once or twice, but for the majority of the time I remained silent.
The question now arises, who would voluntarily go through a trial like this? Well, I would! Among many reasons, there are two I am willing to share.
The first, the more obvious, was to raise money. Through my silence I raised awareness and over $100 that will go to build a school in Sierra Leone. The silence was symbolic of the unheard voices of children unable to move beyond their standings in life. The group, Free the Children, use the money they receive for several different projects involving self-sustaining living environments focusing on the children within those communities.
The second, a personal challenge. Being silent for a full 48 hours is difficult; if you don’t believe me try it! I set high goals for myself. My first guidelines involved no gesturing, writing (other than class notes), or verbal speaking. I would simply float through the days just breathing, eating and listening. I really wanted to experience being ostracized, and it worked! So well in fact after about 6 hours, I gave that in and started gesturing. The following day, when I got really frustrated I even wrote.
The inability to communicate is terrible. I haven’t experienced anything like it before. Much of the time, I actually was participating in the conversations around me, all within my head. I had to question myself if it was my inside or outside voice. Even now that I am speaking again, I second-guess myself. The point was made. Only after this experience, do I have any inclination of what it fills like to be stuck in a situation without much chance of escape. However, mine was escapable at any minute I could scream if I needed or change the circumstances I was in. I am thankful I had the support of those around me, cheering me on, making me laugh, and just being there when I was aggravated.
I am not sure if I will ever go silent in this manor again, but I am thankful of the knowledge and compassion I gained from it.
posted by Cole @ 10:28 PM
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