(…) but this makes me realize that often talk is an escape from doing anything. We chatter on and on to cover our feelings and to hide from ourselves and others our own futility.
Zena Hitz points out this small idea in her book “Lost in Thought”.
I’ve been thinking about it recently.
I love conversations and talking with people. Once, when I was a child my parents did a 3-hour road trip with me in the back, speaking the whole way, telling a never-ending story.
So, when I read that quote, I started to think about it. It didn’t resonate within me but maybe I was wrong.
As I thought about it, I’ve realized that excessive talking aims at 2 things:
Cover up painful internal dialogue (the ideas and thoughts within your head);
Omit the discomfort that emerges from silence (both within and without).
This resonated much more.
Sometimes, we tend to avoid our internal seeds within, by focusing on flowers outside. We occupy a great deal of our time trying to distract ourselves and others from whatever’s truly happening within us.
Sometimes I do that too! But most of the time, I’m pretty comfortable under my skin.
I love conversation because I love learning.
How about you?
Why do you speak?