Listen and Silent Have the Same Letters

Some signs are here to help us find the way. 

Others are here to help us pause before taking the next step. 

I have a sign near the front door that reminds me of both points. 

Listen and silent have the same letters. Coincidence? 

Each letter is painted on the sign over a previously used canvas. 

There are colors that can be seen within each letter that include black, red, blue and brown. 

Over all of these is a bright white paint that covers as well as highlights the quote.   

This sign is near the front door for a reason. 

To find a way and to pause.

If I listen and observe, then will I be able to see each of the colors?

If I listen and observe, then will I be able to see each of the colors in the letters? 

The small parts of this are what I now pay attention to each time I walk around the table.

Staying silent is what brought me to another awareness with this bright white quote. 

Being silent doesn’t mean you have nothing to say.

In fact, listening to the silence is how I’ve come to the next question. 

Will I also be able to observe the words that need to be said as I listen for that? 

Being silent and with others in their silence has shown me how to go back to doing what I used to do. 

It has looked a few different ways. 

This could be restarting in the morning, replaying what was happening in your life with a tender memory or playing and having fun with those around you today. 

Knowing how to begin is what comes when you listen and stay silent.

I listen when I pay attention to what the rhythm of life is telling me, 

how my feet feel when I enter a space, 

what my heartbeat speed tells me with a quickened or easy pace and 

how my heart opens as I feel belonging with others. 

This could be another way to listen.

This could be another way to listen along with the birds that bring a melody to the sunrise. 

Or how the banter among lifelong friends reminds people of becoming extended family. 

As if friends can become like cousins if we listen closely enough to know about things that aren’t being said. 

Perhaps that is what we can see and hear when we are silent and we choose to listen.

Think about a time when this has become part of your open heart and easy pace of life. 

When listening and silence brings more to your life.

When listening and silence brings more to your life. 

Others have wondered if a person who is silent has nothing to say. 

When someone is not able to speak at times, they could be waiting for us to hear them through their body language, 

gestures, 

looks across the room, 

sign language and 

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

I was shown this through a lifetime of living with our Tall One, Dallin. 

Dallin was incredible at listening, knowing and observing.

Dallin was incredible at listening, knowing and observing and he was not able to speak throughout his life. 

He was also able to communicate through many ways, although others thought he was silent in some ways. 

One did not outweigh the other as he used everything at his disposal, including sign language and AAC to listen and say what needed to be said. 

This could be another way to look at the sign with bright white paint and that is not a coincidence. 

It is what I did then and what I now know. 

Having many modes of communication begins by being in the moment and the rhythm of life. 

His joy at being in an easy pace of life brought an ease to my heart and soul. 

This could be the true reason why the sign near the front door brightens my day. 

Listening and silence can bring more to life.

Let’s do this together as we look to become family while we play and find our rhythm.