So often we feel that silence is a bad thing. We go on dates and we're told to have conversations thought of to be ready for the 'awkward silence' or we have meetings and we feel we have to fill the air with fluff words while the other person is looking deeper into something. Even in casual settings with friends we talk just to talk. Sitting back and listening to the silence takes comfort in who we are as a person and our relationship to another.
The more comfortable I've become with myself and who I am/who I want to be as a person, the more I see through the unnecessary fluff I once needed or thought I needed in conversations. I thought if there would ever be a dead silence or drop in conversation then things would just get weird. But let's sit back and look at some of our closest relationships. Silence is OK in these. We never sit with our best friend and talk constantly, yeah, we might tell stories and reminisce and joke but when the time comes to sit in silence it's not an issue. We never take part in small talk but rather we have deep meaningful talks or talks that allow us to get to know one another better. We get comfortable which allows us to appreciate the silence.
We simply begin to enjoy another person's presence. It makes us think about what's going on while we're with that person, the good, the bad, whatever; we can just sit and think sometimes. It allows us to not rush into conversations because sometimes we need to think about what we're about to say. It brings us to talk about more beneficial things, not filling the space with gossip or irrelevant talks.
There's beauty in the silence, it allows us to take in our surroundings, the company we keep and just be happy with the present. Sometimes we need to practice mindfulness, silence really isn't all that awkward, it's just the way we think about it. Why fill the air with things that aren't necessary to be said? I'm not saying don't tell stories or tell ridiculous jokes because I do both and it's just fun things but what I'm saying is don't fill the air with gossip or negative things that are bringing you down as well as the person you're talking to. It's just like the quote we see all over social media talking about if the words that left our mouth were tattooed on our body, would we be proud? I think that's important to remember when we're talking to others whether they're our close friends and family or simply acquaintances. So remember to speak kindly, compliment one another, laugh, and don't be afraid to take in a little silence.
"Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." - Rumi
