An eloquent silence

The pause – that impressive silence, that eloquent silence, that geometrically progressive silence, which often achieves a desired effect where no combination of words, however felicitous could accomplish it.
~Mark Twain
 
Over the past two years, I’ve been struggling with one of the lesser-known side effects of PTSD – a delay in speech response due to the brain’s inability to process language at its normal rate.  What at times has felt paralyzing and embarrassing has become a blessing in disguise, as it has compelled me to either slow down my reaction, or to simply forgo one entirely.  In becoming a more empathetic listener, I’ve discovered that more often than not, the best advice you can give someone is to be fully present, and listen.

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