Not speak a word for 24 hours

Opportunities to do this don’t show very often, when you’re a professional salesman. :P

Plus, since I am not alone at home, it’s hard to not say a single word even when I have a day off. I would have to be away from home and alone somewhere. But what could I do?

I might do this once I get into my new appartment (I started shopping for flats recently), it will be easier to spend a day alone and not say a single word. But I wonder… does internet count? Like… if I come here and write something on 43Things, or if I talk with someone on MSN?

Well… speaking is oral, right? I can still communicate?

happen after more than a year – moving it to the someday list.

I was just thinking about talking. How we sometimes talk about so many things at once, but really about nothing at all. How I really like to engage in a deep conversation, but end up just reading about it and analyzing the stories in my mind. Not that I don’t have friends to talk with, it’s just that sometimes it’s too tiring.

For me, silent moments have always been a serious issue. I tend to think that I am boring, start to ponder about other things, then think that I really should be engaging people in conversation. This leads me to have a feeling of discomfort, which in turn leads me to want to run away and hide. I think the reason I hate silent moments is because I cannot let go of my inner emotions and just let energy fill the space. I think I am afraid to feel. Afraid to connect.

Being silent for 24 hours might help me to re-connect with people. Or at least, might help me to sort out all that mess in my head. Power to flooding (as in behavioural therapy)!

I always thought it would be interesting, maybe even profound, to go a day without speaking. It’s something I’ve thought about doing for about 10 years, but I’ve never attempted it. Aside from being an exercise in self discipline, I think it would increase awareness through the other senses and it would allow me to begin to think about things differently. I don’t want to use words of any kind for a day, so no talking, writing, typing, or signing.

It was especially hard because Andrew was home too and we both took the vow.
So, we were constantly having to write or type things… charades only gets you so far. :)

It was fun and difficult!
I’m putting this back on my list to do it again some other time! :D

I talk all the time and this will be really challenging for me!
But, I’ll give it a shot!!

I did it for charity :)

I’ve chosen to take a 24-hour vow of silence because I generally like to be silent in first place. Furthermore I think that people are generally talking wayyy too much without making sense – words, words, words (Hamlet). I’ll enjoy to do the opposite.
I also have a tendency that I want to do things that are restrictive towards myself, this goal certainly fits into that category.
Timing-wise, I want to do this before the end of the year.

I didn’t get out except to go to the store once due to weather, but had fun with it. A couple of times I almost spoke, but caught myself. When I was at the store, the owner (who knows me) was wondering why I wasn’t talking and asked if I had laringitis. I shook my head and smiled to which she said: “Ooookaaaay.” I want to do this again, but actually go out more.

It didn’t work out today. :( One thing I learned: don’t play video games if you’ve taken a vow of silence. It won’t work out well, trust me.
Will try again midnight tonight. This time I’ll wear a gag so I don’t blow it again when I wake up tomorrow.