Recently, I experienced my first silent movie. Most of us don't pay attention to silent movies anymore; they're part of a bygone era of film that we've long since surpassed. And maybe watching decades-gone actors in foggy black-and-white isn't your cup of tea - there's no judgment here. But as I watched Buster Keaton tell a story to his audience through actions alone, I started to think that maybe we could all learn a thing or two from silent movies.
Today's technology in film-making is always reaching new heights. We have full color HD, CGI, multi-million dollar film budgets, and 3D special effects - not to mention the fact that we actually have the capability to capture the human voice as well as record movement. Filmmakers back then had none of these, but still managed to work with what they were given. They told stories through something that seems strange to us now. Through silence.
Our world is full of noise, and I don't just mean the noise of electronics, entertainment, and social media. Our world is full of voices. We all feel the need to add our input to the conversation, make ourselves heard above the rest. If everyone's opinion is valid, why shouldn't mine be heard the loudest?
We seem to forget that our actions often scream much louder than our words. Anyone can make a promise and talk a good game, but even the best-intended promises can make you into a liar if there is no action behind it. Would we remember people like Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King, Jr. if they'd only ever made their opinions known? No, we remember them for what they did and accomplished in life beyond their words. This doesn't mean their words weren't great, but all the words in the world would have meant nothing had they stood alone without action.
Let's return to the idea of a silent movie. They made statements and told stories without any noise, save for background orchestration. The actions alone are what made these movies. Some of the most loving communication we are capable of comes from the absence of words.
My late grandmother comes to mind. Nana was someone who gave her actions room to speak. Even if she'd never said a word to me in the years I knew her, I would have still been fully convinced of her love, because her love wasn't words alone. It was the smile she wore on her face continually; it was how she wouldn't be happy until everyone was having a good time; it was when she would slip money into my hand as I was walking out the door and order me to use it for ice cream later. Her words always meant a lot to me, but it's her actions I will always remember.
Do we speak with actions too, or with words alone? It's a personal question that requires a personal answer. If your life was stripped of all the noise, like a silent movie with only actions to tell a story, would the world still hear you?
