Dean Koontz knows what’s up in this girls’ head. I am obsessed with words. Reading them, creating them, weaving them into lyrical prose, exploring the words of others, teaching them – both my careers in language therapy and in writing are grounded in this common theme of an absolute infatuation with words and expression. So, on the back of a week where the earth seemed to tilt and everything appeared much more raw, real, frightening and non-sensical than it ever had … I found that my words stopped. I usually write to express, to explore and to heal but they literally would not come. Not in my journal, not within the blog, not even out loud … I found myself grappling at how to express and clearly articulate what was going on in my head. And I learned that shutting the fuck up also holds with it intense power to observe and reflect and comfort.

Physical presence and connection took precedence over words this week. Silent hugs, simple touch, sitting in the company of family members and loved ones. The comfort and love that can be communicated through the simple and natural act of being present with someone who is struggling is so absolutely underrated.

Gestures and actions often say what words cannot. Flowers and simple declarations of ‘Here when you need’. Basically reiterating the subtext of this post ‘I don’t know what to say. Nothing can ease what you’re going through. But I love you and am here for you’. Words aren’t the be all and end all – sometimes actions truly do capture what we can’t express.

Learn from others. The stories and old wounds that others carry around with them are often unspoken and it’s in the presence of one another’s struggles and darkness that we are often called to share our stories. The thing is, life can get pretty nasty and scary for so many of us, and our journeys and experiences on this spinning little planet are often more similar than we might think. My most healing conversations came from those who shared their stories with me – who had been through similar, or who similarly had no idea what to do or how to handle the situation, but instead shared their trust that it will pass (not go away completely, but the intensity of the present moment will undoubtably pass and ease).

Blessings and so much silence x