Octavia Butler's Essay: The Art Of Silence
Silence can mean many things; we shouldn’t shy away from it. We should embrace it for what it is, and isn’t.
In the passenger seat with the heater puffing, I sit next to my best friend. Not a word is said. The silence says it all. She was upset and I didn’t need to know why. Silence in return was all that she needed to know, that she had my attention. That was fine with me. Octavia Butler, an American writer, states this better than I can. “Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over”. Saying nothing at all brings people together, and it's important not to …show more content…
This is a good thing: to be able to get information whenever we need it. But, when it gets in the way of self-thought (the idea of taking a look at what you think and feel). It's time to take a step away from those distractions. It only takes four seconds to get to that so called “awkward silence”. Kids, especially nowadays, don't know how to deal with the break of conversation, so they revert to what they do know. They either leave the conversation completely or distract themselves with their phone, IPad, book, …show more content…
Often obstacles can eat up a lot of our time. It’s important to take time away from these annoyances. Rather, spend time thinking, spending time with friends, and not feeling obligated to say anything.
Silence isn't for everyone it can be boring. It can have an awkward effect on conversations and social events. But taking five minutes out of the day, away from all distractions, is essential for a healthy mind. Everyone needs some silence sometimes; some people don’t allow themselves to sit in silence or think clearly.
“Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking, no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure” - Henri Nouwen.
Without having those awkward silences, that can be funny, conversations would be meaningless. Life is full of unexpected silences. It's not to torture you or make you squirm it's there for self reflection and building
In the passenger seat with the heater puffing, I sit next to my best friend. Not a word is said. The silence says it all. She was upset and I didn’t need to know why. Silence in return was all that she needed to know, that she had my attention. That was fine with me. Octavia Butler, an American writer, states this better than I can. “Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over”. Saying nothing at all brings people together, and it's important not to …show more content…
This is a good thing: to be able to get information whenever we need it. But, when it gets in the way of self-thought (the idea of taking a look at what you think and feel). It's time to take a step away from those distractions. It only takes four seconds to get to that so called “awkward silence”. Kids, especially nowadays, don't know how to deal with the break of conversation, so they revert to what they do know. They either leave the conversation completely or distract themselves with their phone, IPad, book, …show more content…
Often obstacles can eat up a lot of our time. It’s important to take time away from these annoyances. Rather, spend time thinking, spending time with friends, and not feeling obligated to say anything.
Silence isn't for everyone it can be boring. It can have an awkward effect on conversations and social events. But taking five minutes out of the day, away from all distractions, is essential for a healthy mind. Everyone needs some silence sometimes; some people don’t allow themselves to sit in silence or think clearly.
“Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking, no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure” - Henri Nouwen.
Without having those awkward silences, that can be funny, conversations would be meaningless. Life is full of unexpected silences. It's not to torture you or make you squirm it's there for self reflection and building