Saturday 15 June 2013

Reflective.

8 things I have learnt from doing 40 hours of no talking...


1. I really love the evolution of technology.
I know I could have spent some time writing by hand, but Microsoft Word, my cellular phone, and Facebook gave me a much needed outlet for my words over the famine.
I actually managed to have a beautiful conversation with my flatmate. She was talking, I was typing. And we did deeply connect. Who would of thought!
So I'm glad that while maybe I was kinda cheating, I was able to communicate to my friends in a way other than just verbal conversation.

2. I am super grateful that I am educated.
It seems many cultures, poor or not, are able to speak to one another, but in some primitive cultures their language is solely oral. Yet we are lucky to be able to read and to write.
This meant I was able to communicate without just my words, and entertain myself with reading.
I'm glad I've grown up in a country where education is valued and provided.
Just another one of our privileges.

3. I get too much self-worth from the reactions others give my words.
Here it gets a little bit more personal...
Many times over the famine I felt like less of a person because I was unable to speak. It didn't just suck, it really got me thinking about my worth.
See whenever my friends were talking I kept thinking little witty things that I could add to the conversation or say to make them laugh.
Yet, of course I couldn't.
I realised I really want people to think I'm funny, yet without talking how can they?
And when I was "chatting" with my flatmate, I really wanted to encourage her with my words and say "I love you."
But I couldn't.
I am now going to work on showing encouragement through my actions, and worry less about whether people can hear how 'funny' I am.
Very good thought - I urge you to consider this sense of value too.

4. I can handle not talking to others, but not talking to myself is AWFUL.
Maaaaaaaan it was hard not talking to myself for 40 hours!
Do you know how difficult it is to write poetry when you can't say it aloud?!
Poetry is written to be heard I say. So reading it over in my head was just frustrating.
Throughout the day, especially when I am studying, I love to make little noises and read things aloud.
This was definitely the one of the tougher parts of the weekend.

5. I love singing and I feel deprived when I can't do it!
There is really nothing more to say here.
I'm not a great singer at all, but heck I love singing!
40 hours without it was the hardest part of the famine I think.

6. Praying in your head makes it much harder to stay awake while praying.
Let's face it, it's a liiiiiittle tempting to fall asleep when praying sometimes hey?
Especially at night...
I really missed praying aloud and giving God more of my attention.

7. Maybe my words make up too much of who I am.
On the first night of the famine my flatmates and I went out for dinner. One of them said,
"Laura I like it better when you can talk. It feels like you are actually here when you talk."
This made me super sad!
I realised how much of my presence is dedicated by my words.
Isn't it still important that I am physically there? That I am listening and looking at the people I'm with?
I do loooove a good yarn, but I esteem to be more than just a conversationalist.

8. Sometimes silence is the only response, and the best one.
When you cry but you're not sure why,
When someone tells you something awful,
When you see a beautiful sunset,
When you feel faster than you can think,
Silence
is perhaps
            the
            best
            response.



Thank you 40 Famine, for allowing me to partake in this beautiful experience.
And for having the chance to raise $410 for underprivileged kids!




Grace and peace,
La. x

1 comment:

  1. I love this - I'm sure I could do with 40 hours without speaking :o)

    ReplyDelete