Quietude

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So cliche. And yet, it's true. But not because of all the detail and beauty and color. No. It is worth the thousand words that it devours, erases. It is the silence that makes the picture so meaningful. Because, often, the quiet moments mean the most. Those times, the breaks from the cacophony. Tones, no matter how melodious, sometimes get old. In these times, it is required for mouth-utterance to cease, and transfer instead to the eyes, the hands, the soul.

These moments happen anywhere. On your roommate's bed after a stressful night. On a living room couch when you're practically incoherent and couldn't string words together anyway. In a car, in nature. Even over the phone, at times. The only thing required is love, calm, and a permeating silence. Perhaps a little Debussy playing softly in the background. A shoulder to lean on or a hand to hold.

This silence is not awkward--quite the opposite in fact. It comforts, brings joy and peace. And although you are not audibly communicating . . .  something more, something deeper, transpires. All you need to know is that you are with, are helping, are loving someone you care about. And in these silent seconds, you are learning much more about them, their soul, yourself, humanity, than you ever would by speaking.