Run Round In My Head
(13.02.2003 - 2:45 p.m.)

I wanted to thank you, partly for showing me that I wasn't the only one feeling this way, but also for inspiring me to think about the following.

oOo oOo oOo

I believe that the role of silence is largely misinterpreted. People are often silent when they are angry; when they are shy. But silence can mean something else entirely. Silence does not have to be about fear. For what are anger and shyness if they are not fear? Silence can, if you let it, be about positivity, contemplation; about exploration and time itself.

All too often we feel the need to fill silence. It lingers at the back of our minds like a thief, coming to steal our voice away. We fill our heads with methods of combatting it, as if it were a common enemy. In our desperation to banish silence, we will say the first thing that comes into our heads, however inappropriate it turns out to be; however ridiculous. We turn on a radio and listen to something that, if we think about it, we have absolutely no interest in. We fill our lives with a continuous sound; a neverending signal. But to what purpose?

Sound, for the large part, is about communication. Even when it is in the form of music, or simply the sound of something happening in the street, we receive that signal and something is communicated to us. Sound as language, and language itself, are powerful tools. But how often do you find yourself struggling for the words to express yourself? How often does language, and sound, seem to be inadequate as a way of communicating? And in those times, when sound is not enough, how do you communicate?

It would seem to me to be logical that, if sound and language are a way of communicating, then it's opposite can be also. When words and sounds fail us, when the ideas that are in our heads are simply too enormous to be contained by them, silence ceases to be sound's opposite, surpasses being it's equal, and rapidly becomes it's superior.

People being silent together, realising, contemplating and reflecting upon that silence and what it means, is undervalued. Perhaps if we spent more time in silence, instead of struggling for words to say or sounds to fill our lives, we might learn more of it's value. We might learn more about ourselves.

Silence is not our enemy. If it is used and embraced it can be more powerful than any word in any language. And it becomes more than just a tool for communication. Silence is a space. In our heads and in the physical world around us, silence creates space to move; space to breathe; space to manoeuvre and explore. And it gives us time. Time to discover; time to reveal; time to think about how to use silence and sound to best effect.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not advocating that silence should always be seen as in some way more desirable than sound. I merely wish to posit the notion that an abundance of one can somehow cheapen it's own nature. By filling our lives with sound, we somehow lose some of it's value; we lessen it's power.

There is a place for both silence and sound. Perhaps we ought to use some of the space that silence affords us to contemplate when, where and how we use both.

oOo oOo oOo

The role of silence and sound in our lives is a fascinating subject. I was reading Cista's diary, and she talked about the idea that language and sound are somehow used to demand, and therefore show how someone can be demanding. Perhaps there is an argument there, too. Perhaps silence can show someone that we are not asking anything of them. Perhaps silence can show that far from needing some extra or monumental effort, all we really need is to be. Sharing that moment, and that silence, can be enough.

oOo oOo oOo

So I spent quite a while last night mucking around with the highly entertaining South Park Studio. I know I've mentioned it before, but in case you missed it, it's a nifty tool whereby you can create South Park versions of yourself and your friends. And let me tell you, some of you guys would look great as South Park characters.

oOo oOo oOo

And I also realised last night that I have now been writing in this diary for just over a year. My very first entry was on February 9th, 2002. So happy birthday diary. I love you lots.

oOo oOo oOo

Please come and join me in the all new Solipsist Diaryring. Information about the ring can be found here, and you can join the ring here.

oOo oOo oOo

Currently spinning: When You Come Back Down, Nickel Creek.

______________________________________________________
Currently Spinning:
Link-O-Rama Link Of The Day: