The Sound of Silence

There is an old Alanis Morrisette song called "All I Really Want" (it's still hard for me to think of Alanis Morrisette as having ANY "old songs"...) Within the lyrics, she asks, "Why are you so petrified of silence?" Then the music stops completely for a full measure and then she proceeds to ask you what you thought about in the silence.

I have always thought it was interesting that people are uncomfortable with silence. I know I tend to be. When I get nervous, I talk a blue streak. But once I am comfortable with someone, that silence doesn't seem so uncomfortable. In fact, sometimes, it is the best thing to share with another person.

Sound pervades our whole existence as modern Americans. Everywhere you go there is sound: music in the stores; the noise of cars, planes and motorcycles, televisions in every restaurant. Sometimes the silence is exactly what you crave. You need that silence to heal your soul.