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
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.
Summary
We reflect on the metaphor of the wall as a communication barrier — realizing our dialogues are often monologues with ourselves. We recognize the illusion of communication in our failure to listen, highlighting the disconnect between self and space. We are challenged to balance speaking with listening, allowing our inner space to contribute to the conversation. This reflection underscores the importance of embracing silence and space for genuine understanding and connection.
Glossarium
- The Wall: A metaphor for communication barriers and self-reflection.
- Self-Communication: The dialogue we have with ourselves, often without listening.
- Space: The inner landscape and consciousness that seeks expression.
“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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