silence is golden
Last week, Anne LeClaire spoke to the Hawaii Writers Conference about how she is silent every other Monday. Then, Traci Toguchi asked on her blog how long you've you been able to stay silent.
A few years back, people gave actors Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise a lot of flack for Suri's "silent birth," something Scientologists practice. I was curious + read up on the details, mainly that you try to keep your environment as minimally invasive as possible to reduce stress. The thought was intriguing.
In May 2008, I went in for surgery to remove a Phyllodes Tumor from my left breast. I decided to try this "silent healing" technique myself. I went radio silent on social media. Shut off my phone completely. Nurses would ask if I wanted the TV on + I refused. I didn't even pick up a magazine. As I waited alone for more than four hours in the surgical prep area, my thoughts drifted to how hungry I was then, but I suddenly found myself in a different place mentally. I didn't talk or joke w/ hospital employees, unless necessary. If I heard other TVs, I blocked it. When I got home, I spent two days by myself, in total silence. By the 3rd day. I hopped in my rental car + drove to the North Shore, where I went climbing on the rocks + enjoyed nature in silence. I healed really fast.A couple weeks later, I had to go back for a second surgery on the same tumor. This time, I was overconfident + felt I could take myself to the same place mentally. I texted, tweeted, talked story. While I left the TV off, I read magazines + tried in vain to nap. Post surgery, I started joking w hospital staff. Later that night, we went to a loud restaurant + I foolishly downed a margarita. This time, I spent my time in bed on the computer, excited to start my new job.The pain did not go away after 3 days. It didn't go away for more than two weeks. I called my surgeon, insisting something was wrong. When things finally cleared up, I took time to reflect + realized my mistake. While I may not agree w Scientologists on much else, I agree that doing meditative + silent work during medical procedures is imperative to faster healing.Mahalo for listening! Aloha,Laurie
http://tinyurl.com/okvfn6 (Traci's Blog)
