When we talk about ourselves, about others, or simply about things, we want-it could be said- to reveal ourselves in our words: We want to show what we think and feel. We let others have a glimpse into our soul... But maybe this is absolutely false? A self-deception? For not only do we reveal ourselves with our words, we also betray ourselves. We give away a lot more than we wanted to reveal, and sometimes it's the exact opposite. And the others can interpret our words as symptoms for something we ourselves may not even know.(Mercier, Night Train to Lisbon)
Sharing words spoken or written is such a pleasure. Communication with another is very important. Without such we miss the challenge of trying to understand another. Without words we miss the fulfillment of sharing our thoughts and dreams with another.
That being said, I have always been of the mindset that one should listen with both their ears and their eyes. Body language shares so much more than just the spoken word. The look, the smile, the tensing of muscles all give a window into the others soul. Without the gestures, words can be seen as empty. It is easy to misunderstand. How often does one read an e-mail and become angry at the written words only to find out that the tone was not intended?
Have a wonderful weekend. Share some words with a loved one. I hope to do the same.
