So for the first time in a long time, I find myself completely at a loss. I've lost my voice. Gone. I woke up yesterday and couldn't speak - at all. The doctor tells me it will be at least until Saturday before I can talk again.
It's frustrating because I can't create podcasts. Obviously I can't record them, but I also read out loud as I write them, to make sure they sound right. So much of what I do is wrapped up in speech.
Not that it's even close to the same thing, but my father is going through something similar. He had a stroke a few weeks ago, and is no re-learning to talk. He's lost the connection between many of his mental images and the words associated with them - He can't access a lot of his vocabulary just yet.
But the truth is, so much of what we say and mean is not carried in our words alone. Our tone of voice, eyes, and body language make up a significant part of communication.
So, as a reminder that words aren't always important, allow me to share my favorite animated short with you - Chris Cordingley's "After You." There are no words spoken in this piece, but a lot is said:
http://www.cordingley.com/TH_AfterYou_QT_Lg.html
Digg it