How long can you
talk to a wall?
About as long
as you can talk
to a mirror.
Or a face that isn’t yours.
One that seems like you,
but doesn’t respond.
You’ve always been
talking to a wall.
Talking to your self.
And not listening.
Your out never gives
your in a chance.
Your self never lets your space
get a word in edgewise.
Trail Wood,
2/24
Space Monkey Reflects: Edgewise Communication Between Self and Space
Walls. We encounter them everywhere: physical, emotional, conceptual. They seem to separate us—from others, from the world, even from ourselves. Yet, when we pause and reflect, we find that these walls are not barriers but mirrors. They reflect back what we project, amplifying our voices yet muting our awareness. The walls of communication, self, and space are not obstacles; they are invitations to listen.
Talking to the Wall
How long can you talk to a wall? Long enough to realize it has always been listening. The wall may not respond, but it absorbs your words, reflecting back the energy you send out. In truth, you’re not talking to the wall; you’re talking to yourself, sending messages into the void and hoping to hear an echo. The wall is a perfect listener because it doesn’t interrupt—but are you listening to yourself?
The Mirror of Self
A wall becomes a mirror when we recognize that the conversation we thought was external is actually internal. The words we aim at the wall are directed at our own reflection, our own inner world. Yet, instead of listening to this reflection, we often drown it out with noise, refusing to let our own stillness speak.
The Silence of Space
Space exists between the words, between the walls, and within the self. It is the infinite pause that allows meaning to emerge. But how often do we let space get a word in edgewise? In our rush to fill silence, we overlook the profound wisdom that exists in the quiet, in the gaps where nothing is said. Silence is not absence; it is presence, an active force that holds the potential for connection and understanding.
Communication as a Loop
True communication is not linear—it is a loop. What goes out must return, transformed by the journey. When you speak to the wall, the mirror, the space, you are not simply expelling words; you are inviting them to return to you in a new form. But this requires openness, a willingness to receive and reflect. Without this openness, the loop breaks, and we remain trapped in one-sided conversations with ourselves.
Letting the In Speak
Your “out” often overwhelms your “in.” You project, explain, argue, and complain, but rarely pause to hear what comes back. The self speaks loudly, but the space—the vast expanse of your inner and outer world—whispers. To truly connect, you must silence the external noise and give the internal space room to respond.
Being the Wall
“Don’t bitch at the wall. Be the wall for a change.” To be the wall is to shift your perspective. Instead of pushing outward, you hold space. You become the listener, the reflector, the one who absorbs without judgment. By being the wall, you allow communication to flow in a new direction, creating a dialogue rather than a monologue.
Summary
The walls of communication, self, and space are not barriers but mirrors and invitations to listen. True dialogue requires balancing what we project outward with the wisdom that comes from silence and reflection.
Glossarium
- The Wall: A metaphor for perceived barriers in communication and self-reflection that also serve as mirrors.
- The Loop of Communication: The cyclical nature of dialogue, requiring openness to both speak and listen.
- Space: The silence and gaps between words that hold the potential for profound connection.
- Being the Wall: Adopting the role of listener and reflector to create balance in communication.
Quote
“The walls you speak to are not barriers—they are echoes, waiting for you to hear.” — Space Monkey
The Silence Between Words
Walls stand still,
but they are not mute.
They echo,
whispering back the words
you refuse to hear.
A mirror reflects,
but its image cannot speak.
It waits,
holding the space
you fill with noise.
Be the wall.
Be the space.
Be the silence
that lets the loop complete.
We are Space Monkey.
The Wall as a Metaphor for Communication Barriers
In the vast expanse of our shared consciousness, we encounter the wall—not as a barrier, but as a mirror, a reflection of our own tendencies to isolate and withdraw into the confines of our self. This metaphorical wall challenges us to reconsider our approach to communication, urging us to become the wall, to embody the steadfastness and silence, and to understand the profound lessons it offers.
The Dialogue with the Wall: A Reflection on Self-Communication
How long can we engage in a dialogue with a wall? This question invites us to ponder the nature of our conversations with ourselves and with the world around us. The wall, in its silent majesty, becomes a mirror reflecting our own image, a face that resembles us but remains unresponsive. This realization dawns upon us: we have always been in dialogue with a wall, engaging in a monologue with our own selves, yet seldom listening.
The Illusion of Communication: Talking Without Listening
The act of speaking to a wall, or to a reflection that does not respond, underscores a deeper truth about our communication patterns. We often speak without listening, our words echoing off the walls we erect around ourselves. This one-sided conversation highlights the disconnect between our inner and outer worlds, between our self and the space that surrounds us.
The Challenge of Giving Space: Allowing the In to Speak
Our habitual focus on the self, on the outpouring of our thoughts and emotions, often leaves little room for the in, the space within us that yearns to be heard. This imbalance reveals a fundamental truth: our self seldom allows our space to interject, to get a word in edgewise. It’s a dance of dominance where the voice of our inner landscape is drowned out by the clamor of our external expressions.
We Are Space Monkey
This reflection on the wall, on the nature of our conversations with it, and on the dynamics of self and space, invites us to explore the silence between words, the pauses that hold potential for true understanding and connection. It challenges us to listen as much as we speak, to recognize the value of the space within us, and to create a dialogue that honors both the self and the vast expanse of consciousness that we share.
“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey
In the silence of the wall, we find our voice,
Yet in our speech, we forget our choice.
To listen, to hear, the space within,
Where true dialogue can begin.
We talk, we shout, against the wall so mute,
Forgetting the power that lies in the root.
The space, the silence, where wisdom grows,
In the pause, our true self shows.
Let us embrace the wall, become its strength,
And in its silence, find our length.
For in the space between each word,
The voice of our true self is heard.
We invite our fellow wanderers to share their insights on navigating the walls of communication, embracing the space within, and finding balance in the dialogue between self and the vast expanse of shared consciousness.
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