The Beauty of Silence

Like a chicken with my head cut off, I found myself tense, busy, and unable to stop and think.  I forgot the essence of it all.  One time I collapsed and broke into tears…maybe this was not meant to be like this.

The Beauty of Silence is this:  Listening.  In the turmoil of busyness, we often rush here, there, anywhere…for what?  These are questions we ponder or do we?  What is the essence of life?  I once read this phrase:  “love is listening“.  Loving people means listening to their thoughts, feelings, words, emotions, and even body language.  I see the strain in their faces, underneath that smile- a cold and forgotten life.

If we don’t stop to listen, starting with our own hearts, time will pass by unawares.  Like a ghost, chilly, deceiving.  Our hearts will be abandoned on the road to nothing, on the road to a society- created dream.  Are those really our dreams?  Or have we imitated others?  Our search is to discover the dreams in our hearts, the constant beat reminding us, reminding us.

So in the rush of this season…I opt to listen, to bathe myself in the beauty of silence.  What is my heart telling me?  What is God telling me?  What are my friends feeling, how are they happy or suffering?

This morning, I sat at Starbucks.  An old man complimented me on my outfit- “are you heading to church dear?”  I said, “yes, later”.  He sat with his mug and a mount of newspapers.  I sat with my Christmas cards, writing to friends.  Suddenly, I felt compelled to write a Christmas card to this stranger…entertain an angel unawares.  My own hand drawn printed card.

He was so happy.  The small things.  Maybe that’s what counts…random acts of kindness.

Honestly, I must say active listening is one of the hardest skills.  I seek to understand, process and not interpret or assume what people say to me.  I want to wholeheartedly understand their point of view, then share mine.  But in the end, as I have lately reiterated- “agree to disagree”.

This weekend consisted of my brother’s grad show isaaklien.atspace.com (Art Center College of Design Grad Show 2008) on Friday and his graduation on Saturday morning….which basically consisted of me waking up at 8:30 am and rushing to get there.  Right after we went to devour Chinese food and at 3 pm, I was off to Cal Mart to Unique Los Angeles Indie Craft Tradeshow.  Props to Sonja for the most amazing independent craft/ art show I have ever been to.  By 7 pm, I was exhausted and ready to fall off my high chair and die a million times over.  It has been the most networking- filled weekend ever.  I got to meet tons of amazing artists and crafters.

My friend’s Cool Sneak.  DROOL.  I want to find random sneakers in someone’s trunk!!

ART CENTER GRAD SHOW 2008, Painted Mural :  I heart the colors- whoever painted this.  You RULE!

One word: COOL.

After going to all these artistically stimulating events, I started thinking about being a vendor at a craftie show.  The only problem is…do I have the time to continue providing products if the demand is high for them?  Am I ready to do this?  Let me prepare and research some more.  And then maybe…I’ll set out for real.

At a wedding December 6th, had the most fun with my friend Kristeenar (inside joke) driving to and from it.  When you find that friend who completely understands and does not  judge you…man. IT’s BOMB.  In a good way.

On another note, I am so grateful for all my friends.  I honestly feel blessed to have all my girlfriends.  I have seen them grow and mature, seen them through the rocky stages of life and I am so FREAKEN PROUD OF THEM.  That is enough- seeing your friends become beautiful women with beautiful hearts.  They remind me of who I am meant to be and encourage me to fulfill my potential.  Like Van Gogh said, the most artistic thing is to love people, I believe art convicts us to greater depths of love.  To all artists and art- appreciators, think deeply, question deeply, and find deeply.  In the end, love deeply.  Adios, til next time- when I will be fully liberated of school work.