ON TUESDAY, I COMPLETED MY DAY WITHOUT WORDS
https://www.michaelheppell.com/2017/11/02/youre-only-committed-when-you-commit/
And I almost failed at the first hurdle. If you didn’t already know, I was completing a personal challenge of having a full day without talking, reading, writing, even listening to words. And to give myself some additional leverage, I raised £2,000 for the amazing organisation Changing Lives http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/MichaelHeppell.
Before the challenge, several people offered me advice; one lady said she did it at a festival with a sign around her neck. I couldn’t do that, as the sign would have words, I would hear lyrics, and I would listen to people talking. No words. No exceptions.
My plan was to embrace the challenge and fill potential gaps with some cleverly thought-out tactics. And that’s why I almost messed up. The first part of the day was simple. I watched birds (something which takes on a whole new feel after 45 mins), had a cup of tea and loved life.
Part two was an afternoon in my workshop. I normally listen to the radio and to replace this stimulus I created a lyric-free playlist. The first hour was fine, then I became overwhelmed. I knew something wasn’t quite right. It was the music. To really experience this day, I needed solitude. To truly be on my own, by myself. Just me and my thoughts.
Within 30 minutes of tuning into the silence, I started to feel a calm which was quite beautiful. No phone, no disturbances, just me, my thoughts, and hand tools. I carved a wooden spoon. Then, just as I thought it was going to be easy, the sun set, and with the dark, a mental darkness came, too. This was the toughest time. Christine brought me a cup of tea and I couldn’t say thank you; I just smiled and gave a weak - thumbs up!
Dinner was even stranger. That’s the time when we have always gathered together as a family (no TV, no phones) and talked, and talked, and talked. Tuesday was just silence.
By midnight I was ready for words. Lovely - brilliant - words.
At just one minute after midnight, a friend sent me a text:
‘How was it? What have you learned?’
Here’s my reply.
‘Fascinating. I learned that:
- I take words (and communication in general) for granted.
- Even if you cut a lump out of your thumb you don’t have to swear!
- Simple things, when you look beyond the first few minutes and have no distractions, are amazing. Look at the birds.
- Lots of very generous people gave me the boost I needed to do this.
- By default, Christine has done this challenge with me.
- I love words – which is why this text says more than just: GR8 thx. Learned loads.’
A few more words in this newsletter than usual but I’ve been storing them up!
Be Brilliant!
Michael
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