This Kind of Silence is an inspirational memoir I wrote about gratitude for the small blessings in life, learning to listen again, and the quiet joys of stillness.

You see, when I was thirty-two years old, an elementary school principal and married mother of two, I woke up one morning and could no longer hear. 

Doctors could offer no explanation. I spent three frustrating years determined to make sense of the medical mystery and find answers. There were none.  Specialists told me there was little chance I would ever get my hearing back. 

Then one day a colleague told me about a wise author named Louise Hay and asked,

“What is it you perhaps don’t want to hear?”

I felt confused, annoyed, and offended by his suggestion. I had no immediate reply. But minutes, into hours and days later, the question lingered like a scent of perfume in the air…

I hope my own deeply personal journey conveyed in This Kind of Silence may serve as a reflective example of how being more compassionate, truthful, and supportive with yourself during times of great struggle and confusion can lead to increased happiness, health, and balance in life. 

I know how frightening and frustrating it can be to look outside for any answers, only to find hurdles and barriers of defeat at each junction.