January 23, 2024

Being Quiet

I would say being quiet is something I’m pretty good at. When someone speaks to me directly, it’s routine for me to respond politely, yet uninviting of further conversation. It feels easier to do so, especially as we enter this 4th week in India and other things are occupying my mind.

Sometimes I’m thinking about how I miss my family and friends; sometimes I think about how my dog won’t be there anymore to greet me when I get home. Sometimes I just find myself quietly out of touch with reality- that we’re still here in India and the program is continuing on. Although everything continues moving around me, it just feels easier to maintain the status quo and go on about my day quietly, hoping that the next day I’ll want to speak more.

As we enter the 4th week, things started snapping back into place and making more sense again. After our first meeting with Biome, I realized there are teammates and an organization relying on me so it’s harder to just stay quiet.

Reading the tool book “Solving Tough Problems” after our Biome call, I came across a chapter called “Talking Politely”. Here is a direct quote from that chapter: “When we talk politely, we are following the party line trying to fit in and so keep the social system whole and unchanged, even though the whole may be diseased or counterfeit.”

What does that say about my current system going towards my overall GCIL goal? How can I work towards making a change when I am not willing to speak up for myself? I sometimes hear of problems that don’t change due to people not speaking up and just think “How will anything change for you if you don’t say anything about it?”

I now recognize how hypocritical that way of thinking is, and how it is detrimental to both my own growth and the growth of our social venture. In these upcoming weeks, I hope to move out of my comfort zone and become a more active member of my team and community.

By Kiara