The Luxury of an Unexpressed Thought
By Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
My grandfather was a bit of a jerk at times, but I always felt loved when we spent time together on his Waynesville farm. I would follow him around, learning how to drive the tractor, craft wooden chess pieces and trellis tomatoes. He passed in 2012, and recently, one of my cousins, McKay—who shares his name—repeated a quote from him that has been on my mind: “Give yourself the luxury of an unexpressed thought.”
As a child, I would not have absorbed that expression to understand that he was basically telling us to stop our endless chatter (a kinder way to say “shut up”). I now consider it excellent advice for a generation that is obsessed with sharing (and dramatizing) the minutiae of daily life. We are allowed to hold secrets in ourselves: our favorite aspect of a meal eaten alone, the country song we happily belt at high decibel in the car on our commute, the early morning anxiety before a heavily scheduled day.
This season, I’m taking a page from my grandfather’s playbook and quieting my own thoughts in order to listen to others. At times, it is other humans who inspire me with their unique perspectives and insights, but more often it is the intricacies of the natural world that speak volumes. When we remove ourselves from the center and allow another object to capture our full attention, the opportunity for learning opens up.
From my time on the trails of Mt. Airy forest, I learn how to feel small yet connected to the cosmic world. As I nurture sprouting seeds, I practice being deliberate and delicate. Each day I check on my first Cannabis crop, I am taught patience as I await their silent signal to harvest.
If we are always talking, we cannot hear. If we don’t listen to the message of the Earth, we cannot begin to heal her wounds. She is willing to share her secrets with anyone who will quiet down long enough to focus. Her language is one of bees visiting redbud blossoms and pawpaw flowers that hold the hope of a bountiful harvest. She speaks in every language to every creature.
This season I give you permission to listen. After that, it’s all up to you.