Elle Potter

mildly hilarious, exceptionally fun, and usually barefoot.

Speak less; say more.

I took a yoga class today with the kind of teacher who would. not. shut. up.  Too many words, too many explanations, too many talking for the sake of trying to get in everything they wanted to say.  And not one minute, not even ten seconds! of peace from the talking in savasana.  I actually laid there with my eyes open because it was the only way I could keep from getting up off my mat and just leaving.  If the teacher told me one more part of my body that I should relax or how I should relax it or how I should feel once I’ve let it relax, I was going to explode.

I left class realizing how often it is that we don’t recognize the incredible value of shutting the fruck up.  We all have so many things we want to say in our lives and sometimes we don’t know how to express it.  Or we do know how to express it, and we want to express it endlessly and we have so many places to express it and people who are interested maybe in listening to us express it… but for pete’s sake, people, sometimes the fine art of shutting up is just what those around you need.

I have had a great number of travel partners in the past year and I have learned that my favorite ones are the ones who let us travel in period silence, allowing the other to immerse in their own thoughts.  There is nothing wrong with a little peace and quiet, and when you are comfortable and confident enough to enjoy just the presence of those around you, there is more said in those moments than if you just yammered on and on for six solid hours.

As the queen of she who sometimes talks aloud to herself when she is completely alone in the car, I know how hard it is to shut up when you just want to talk.  But next time you’re in a conversation, ask yourself:  Is what you are saying benefitting the conversation?  Are you saying the same thing again, but in a different way?  Is the person you’re talking to glazing over?

Be present in your conversation.  You’ll annoy less people.  And they’ll respect and admire you more.  Because you shut up before you said something stupid because you were no longer paying attention to the fact that you were still speaking out loud.

And now… a blues song I wrote where the lyrics don’t make any sense at all.  Enjoy.  Or don’t enjoy.  Luckily, when you follow me primarily online, you can just close the window if you don’t want to hear me talk anymore.

Posted in get creative by Elle on June 22nd, 2011 at 6:08 am.

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