Shhh

There can be a great value in silence. Silence makes people uncomfortable, especially around here, wherein our culture silence doesn’t indicate politeness or respect, it indicates a wrongness, a judgment, an alien. It’s rude to not make small talk, it’s rude not to answer. It’s rude to keep to yourself.

Cate Kennedy, in her collections of short stories, wrote brilliantly on it. In Dark Roots, she published a story called ‘Angel’, which was about an immigrant who understood the silence, let it guide her into our country, and how it ultimately lets her down.

Silence is valuable though. When you are silent, you have the opportunity to really listen to the world around you. When you are quiet, the noise comes singing back to you. When you say nothing, someone feels as though they have to say everything. The unease bites them in the ass and they spill everything that you might want to know about them in one big mouthful.

Silence is scary, and people hate it, but you can use it as a tool. Sharpen the silence and aim well, and people will tell you volumes about their lives. It can send a message. It can end a relationship. It can be the beginning of love. It can be the end of it.