The art of being silent

Some people are by nature, quiet while some others like me have to express every opinion under the sun, relevant or not. However, I am living proof of the fact that this urge is directly proportional to interest in the matter and inversely to maturity. And it definitely wanes as time goes on. More than talking at opportune moments, what requires true skill and mastery is knowing when to shut up. When it was with our parents, we all knew that imminent gut feeling when in the brash course of things we said a sentence too many and just knew that we'd crossed that invisible line of respect and unquestionable authority. What's worse is when you just know that the next statement would definitely far far cross the line and yet, yet you have to say what you have to say. It's sort of like you can see the entire scene unfold in front of your eyes moments before you actually say something that'll trigger it. And knowing what you know, you'd think you could be smart enough to shut up. But no, that will-power is not something that everyone's blessed with. And if you could, you would. Instead, you choose the harder way out - saying whatever it is that you need to say and hoping against hope that something will change in the drama that unfolds. Perhaps a pleasant surprise and no drama? Most often, you aren't lucky enough. People will behave in exactly the same way they have always behaved. Did you happen to change and not say something at the inopportune moment? If that was unlikely, the exploding reactions on the other side is just as unlikely. They don't say for nothing... there are times when silence has the loudest voice.

So in short, learn to shut up when it'll serve you best. :D