After asking a question and receiving absolutely no response, my high school history teacher would pause, then slowly state, “awkward silence means yes,” and move on to the next PowerPoint slide. Our class would perceivably breathe a sigh of relief because we had been spared a few moments of quiet discomfort.

My high school class had a problem with silence. And for some reason, most people today have a problem with silence. We sit outside a professor’s office and pretend to be engrossed in Twitter or Instagram on our phones in order to distract ourselves from the few quiet minutes we must wait. Most people play music in their vehicles, even when others ride with them, so that those lulls in conversations can be filled by something other than silence. Coffee dates perpetuate the habit of filling uncomfortable pauses in conversation by filling one’s mouth with coffee. Some form of white noise, such as the gentle whirring of a box fan or the lulling rhythm of waves on a beach, helps many people fall asleep because silence can be unsettling at night.

However, in reality, there can be beauty in silence. Not silence as in the expectant moment after a teacher or professor asks a question that no one desires to answer. Not as in the awkward seconds that pass while two people rack their brains for some topic, any topic, to chat about. Not as in the pregnant pauses during a difficult conversation. While these moments can be formative in stretching personal bubbles and exceeding levels of comfort, these moments are not what many would consider beautiful.

There is beauty in contented silence, a moment in which both sides are happy simply to be present with one another. This kind of silence is neither awkward nor uncomfortable. Much the contrary, contented silence is peaceful and comfortable. Silence of this kind embraces both people and holds them in that moment, together sharing a slice of time.

Contented silence most often envelopes those moments when words cannot express emotions and sentiments surpass any form of diction.

Contented silence wordlessly says from one to another, “It brings me joy simply to be near you."

Contented silence requires patience and forgiving each other’s awkwardness.

This kind of silence builds over months, even years, and sometimes might never be reached. To be content in silence takes a lot of time spent with the other person, or persons. It takes getting past the awkward hesitations during discussions; it takes pushing oneself to become emotionally acquainted with the other person. While seamless conversation can be a sign of a healthy relationship, contented silence also marks the depth of the relationship by illuminating the joy each person takes in the other.

There come times in our lives when words fall pathetically short of expressing what we long to say; there come times when words are better left unsaid. Yet for all of those awkward moments, there remain silent moments that are deeply beautiful.