words

Would our thinking and feeling be the same without words?

For the past few days, I have gone back to this question time and time again. 'How do words and language shape our thinking?' I thank radiolab(my absolute favorite source of awe and inspiration)for sparking this idea for me. Their latest podcast focuses on words and weaves many stories in and out of this concept. One story that really struck a chord with me was of a neurologist, Jill Bolte Taylor, who had a blood vessel burst in her left hemisphere, which hushed all of her brain chatter, memories, worries, everything! Even though it sounds horrible, she reveled in the pure experience she felt without the many filters in which we process the world around us. In time, she regained her use of language, but could not forgot the joy she experienced without words.

Throughout my life, the concept of living without words has been an interesting idea: when i was in elementary school, I loved reading about Helen Keller and Louis Braille. Later on, I was really moved by the book 'Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. I realized that even my childhood favorite, 'The Little Mermaid' follows a main character who for the majority of the movie is wordless. With words whirling constantly in my mind, I often wish for a break... but what would it really be like to not be able to communicate? I look forward to continue thinking about this idea with Taylor's book, 'My Stroke of Genius'. Hopefully radiolab won't come up with a new exciting podcast until I'm finished with it!

Ok, I think I need to put a stop to my endless words! This week, I hope to share a few of the lessons I'll be teaching(with more pictures than words, promise!). Week two, here I come!