Voiceless

Which is worse: losing one's voice or having nothing to say?

Transcript

Last week I came down with a bad cold. I had a fever and a runny nose, and my head felt really heavy. Finally, I lost my voice. I could talk, but my voice sounded weird, and everytime I spoke loudly I started to cough.

This weekend I've been taking it very easy by staying home and reading. I'm still weak, but my body is recovering and I'm gradually regaining my voice.

When I lose my voice, I become keenly aware of what it means to be able to speak.

Twenty years ago, Lee Thayer, a great teacher of communication, said:

The pervasive evil of the modern age is that men do not think greatly of themselves. This meanness of spirit is reflected not only in our contemporary art, music, and literature, but in our everyday conversation. Small minds and hearts diminish all that they apprehend. A petty tongue is a petty life. (141)

I think it's wise to remember Thayer's words. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself when I catch a cold, but then I realize that losing my voice may not be as bad as having nothing of importance to say.

References

Thayer, Lee. On Communication. Essays in Understanding. Norwood, Ablex: 1987.