Afterafewdaysofwatching students compete in a speaking contest, I might make an easy assumption that ideas are best spread through what comes out of our mouths.
Not so. Of course, it was an impressive two days of watching high school students share their stances on legislation—either in the affirmative or negative. Audience members witnessed some degree of reason, clash, and evidence presented with passion or calm, depending on the speakers’ styles.
Even after witnessing this form of communication— which is a vital skill— let’s not forget that all of us have the ability to convey a message.
From infancy, a baby’s cry definitely says either feed me, hold me, or change my nasty diaper. These tiny creatures can “say” a lot at 2:06 a.m. if I am not mistaken. And in case you need a reminder, they will repeat this at 5:22 a.m.
Effective communication reveals itself in body language. If you watched the terrifying moments during a recent Monday night NFL game, no one needed a microphone or stage to convey the agony and fear at seeing a player receive CPR on the field.
Obviously, written communication is the force behind the newspaper you are reading right now. What goes down on paper has lived through the ages. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was spoken, but no recordings exist. His carefully written speech (of which five copies still exist because, no, he did not write it on the back of a napkin or envelope as is the oft-repeated rumor) does. Thank goodness for his written words for us to marvel at.
Finally, the art of saying nothing is a lost one. Silence conveys a thoughtful pause to consider, a dismissive tone when gossip is going around, or even an abundance of emotion that is impossible to utter other than to simply look at someone and simply embrace them with hand and heart.
It is a joy to watch students work hard to learning how to speak in front of others when they want to debate a point. They are placing themselves in vulnerable positions—to be challenged to communicate with their voices.
Find your voice. It may manifest itself through singing, playing an instrument, writing an essay, nudging your horse during a barrel run, making a no-look assist on the basketball court, knowing your lines in oneact play, or rocking a baby after you’ve changed that dirty diaper instead of putting them back in the crib.
Andeverynowandthen, go silent. It will speak volumes.
Snyder, Texas, native Sue Jane Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher whose thought-provoking commentary appears occasionally in several West Texas newspapers, including The Texas Spur and The Caprock Courier.
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