About Talking

In my early years, I believed speaking was only needed when there was something important to communicate/share.
At the age of 20, I realized people find it awkward (or even rude) when someone does not speak, just is there. So I started practicing small talk - to show kind interest, care, and respect.

 Some time ago, I came across an acquaintance while I was walking home. The person threw the usual, "How are you?" I did not know that someone much so I replied, "Fine, thank you. How are you?"

"Good. Thank you", I heard in response, and we both continued walking in the opposite directions.

"So we talked", I laughed to myself. Although, actually, we did not. I appreciated the person's friendly attitude - it did feel nice. On the other hand, we used so many words, but the result of it all was the same (or perhaps not?) as if we had exchanged: 

- "Hello

- "Hello" only or
- "Good morning"
- "Good morning".
 

So why should we have bothered to say more than one or two words? I guess it is the older/younger me approach getting through here.

These days, after so many years of training, I do practice small talk while socializing and I got used to it. However, I still prefer mutual communicating than just talking/using the speech only to break the silence. After the customary "How are you?", following the purpose of saying those words, I am also still willing to listen to/hear how a person is actually doing (and I appreciate when somebody makes an effort to express that).

Another aspect of talking - words have their own energy. They can hurt really deep too. Regarding the fact that whatever we "send in the air" comes back to us in one way or another, let us be mindful what words we choose to say. For our own sake.