Silence has a way of speaking louder than words, especially when it comes to love. But not all silence is the same. Sometimes silence is a gift; other times, it is a burden.
There is a silence in love that feels safe. It is the quiet of two souls sitting together, not needing to fill the air with words because presence itself is enough. This kind of silence says, I am at peace with you. I don’t have to perform or pretend. I am accepted just as I am. That silence is tender, grounding, and true.
But there is another kind of silence, the one that hurts. It is the silence that comes when your voice is not heard, when your thoughts are dismissed, or when your opinions are pushed aside. In that space, silence no longer feels safe; it feels forced. It becomes the mask you wear to avoid conflict, or the wall that keeps your soul from being seen.
Some call this love, but it is not. Love that requires you to stay quiet is not love. it is control, fear, or insecurity. True love does not shrink you; it expands you. True love invites your voice, welcomes your dreams, and makes space for your doubts as much as your laughter.
The beauty of love is not found in silencing one another but in creating the kind of safety where silence is chosen, not imposed. Real love listens. Real love speaks. And most importantly, real love allows you to be fully heard.
~Susan Daley