Nothing? Say Nothing to Communicate

A digital painting that I did in 21st February 2010.  That moment when I got nothing to say but I ache to make it known. 

"If you have nothing to say, say nothing." - Mark Twain


That was quite profound! It feels so deep when you don't have anything to say but you still have to say it  - well at least say nothing so that people around you would know that you got nothing to say.  Oh the beauty of communication captured like fireflies by Mark Twain.


Why pick such a tone of ambiguity when writing a blog on the beauty of communication?  And why communication?


It has been a month and four days to be exact of my second semester with the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU).  Nearly eight months ago, I joined the queue of working professionals who are pushing for more learnings.  Thanks to distance learning, UPOU is able to take me in while in Singapore. Now I am in my second semester doing Masters in Development Communication. Easy? No not at all I had mountains of adjustments.  Like having to study four times the speed of seconds.  Like having to master the art of speed reading.  Like having to force yourself the discipline of time management when work demands 101% of your time, when family expresses their love by surprise week long visits and you just have to reciprocate by being with them... when you are married and your spouse silently wages war to get your attention, top it with school timelines, tons of readings, learning blogs ... the list just goes on and on.  It seems endless but surprisingly I see it adjusting into the kind of fit that I have in mind, hearth, and will.  


So why blog about communication?


I do because of three reasons ...


Firstly, I find it easy to start my class participation in my subject DEV202 - a study on Development Communication, Concepts, and Approaches,  by writing my thoughts on communication as a student of development communication.  


Secondly, I do because I think I am a natural communicator.  Yes I talk a lot and I have difficulty stopping even if I got nothing to say.  But please don't get me wrong, I am not talkative (ask my friends) I just like to talk, listen, and exchange thoughts especially on topics that  touch the heart, like topics about family, home, children and topics that bring in creativity like nature, food, music, and the beautiful world.


Thirdly, I do because over the 12 years of my career in the nonprofit world, I have seen the  immense power in communication.  I work for an international relief and development aid agency.  I am part of the marketing team of my organization and my specific role requires me to help keep engagement touchpoints for our supporters.  There are a lot of engagement touchpoints that we do but in all of these the common ingredient is communication or the need to communicate. I communicate development.  We communicate development so that it spreads inspiration and gives opportunity for our supporters to be moved to action.

Trying to relax my chin and muscles before hosting a  special gathering for  our organization's supporters 

So, in this blog I won't use what the title of this blog says because I got something to say.

I want to learn to communicate ... communicate for development... that's why I am writing this blog.

Cheers :))