So someone close to me has been really critical of how I speak, or is some cases don’t speak. You’d think they were close enough to me that they would realize I am a woman of few words…verbally. Most writers are horrible at communicating verbally, hence why they are writers…duh. I could spend the whole day writing down what I think and feel all day but verbally it feels kinda forced because my mind isn’t set up to where I blurt out anything and everything. I actually have to organize my thoughts.
As far back as my childhood, I’ve always had people being critical of my verbal skills, but praise me for my writing. I started writing for myself around the age of seven and it helped me feel a sense of freedom. I never felt heard or felt like I had anything important to say unless it was written down. Writing makes more sense to me because the words can flow from my mind onto the page, whereas speaking is more of a performance; body language, social cues and active listening all in one. There are times where I tell a story and speak with passion, but that’s pretty rare and only around people who I am comfortable around. Some people get frustrated by my lack of a motor mouth, just like I get frustrated by people who can talk about themselves for a whole hour.
But this isn’t about who is the better communicator or a debate about talking v. writing. They are simply part of people’s personality, bashing someone because of their communication skills is the very thing that will keep them silent. Instead, it would be better to get an understanding of how others express themselves. I do love that there are people who can talk about anything that comes to mind. especially if they’re funny. I also love that there are people who can express depth in their writing. As I get older, I try to learn how people tick, why they do the things they do. Not to judge, but to get a better understanding of the world around me since I’ve been sheltered most of my life.
So if you do have a friend or relative who speaks slow or doesn’t say much, maybe they’re just better on paper.
