I still walk every day, but my whispers have died on the vine. This is a good thing, because it was almost immediately plain that they were leading nowhere and were better off left unuttered. Eleven entries in all, I’ll let them stand as a reminder: when there is nothing to say, say nothing. And, even when there is something to say, chances are that it should be left unsaid as well. Not that there is safety in silence; but there is a measure of peace, derived from not having to listen to oneself.
I hate the internet — a stupid statement, since without it, these words of wisdom might scarcely see the light of day, and you and I, dear friend, might enjoy the bliss of remaining complete strangers instead of being the online strangers we are now. Be that as it may, I’ve been using it lately only as a means of email communication and bill-paying. Otherwise, I look up nothing, visit no pages, and stay away from the constant barrage of advertising. And I pay good money so visitors to this website aren’t subjected to it.
Now, what about this website? Why, for instance, does it receive more visits when I don’t add to its pages than when I do? It makes me wonder what would happen if I deleted everything: would I then achieve the height of my fame? It might be something to consider, or it would if fame were my goal. But I have no goal. I have an addiction. And by feeding it, I hope to be cured, making me a textbook case. It hasn’t worked yet, which tells me there is hope.
Tell me something I don’t know. Very well — except that you do know it, though you might have forgotten. Whatever you do, any act, even the most seemingly minor — publishing a blog entry, for instance — it must be offered freely, as a gift. I say this because everything that goes into its making, every spoon of salt and cake of yeast, was given first to you. It was given by life itself, which is the greatest gift of all. And so I say give now, while you can, whatever it is, and make sure it’s your best, holding nothing in reserve. Expect nothing in return. You already have everything, as the breath in your body surely proves.
~
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Categories: Everything and Nothing
Tags: Breath, Giving, Gratitude, Life, Peace, Silence
William Michaelian 
I listen to you, I hear you; YOU are good for me 😉
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Am I? I’m glad. Thank you. It’s kind of you to say.
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The Internet is a blessing and a curse. And I agree with you, William, the worst is the way it’s monetised to rob people. But when people give freely like you it can offer moments of joy.
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Indeed, Elisabeth, the technology in and of itself is a beautiful thing. As always, it’s the use we make of it. We rush into everything that’s new and shiny, but it so often ends in weighing us down. Somehow, for instance, we’ve come to think of being advertised at as normal, with all its flashing distractions. But it isn’t natural or healthy for the human animal. Really, it’s a strange time for us to be alive, as if we’re part of a grand experiment. Thank you, as always.
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