HAVE you ever found yourself in a situation where words just don't cut it? That tip-of-your-tongue moment—you're gasping for words, but nothing comes out. Your hands flail around like you’re in a charades game, but to no avail.
You’re with your BFF, sipping coffee, having the time of your life. Suddenly, mid-story, you've run out of words. What do you do? You grab a table napkin and doodle your way to continue your chat. And it seems she understood as you saw her giggling.
When I was with a telco, I had this officemate–a good salesperson, a man of few words. One time, he asked for a special request. I expected a litany and was surprised when he gave me a Post-it note. It contained words and arrows. Each word represented each stage of the process. The arrows served as a guide from one step to the next. And yes, I understood. Request granted.
You see arrows, lines, or other marks on your boss’s doodle-filled note, and you might think, “What in the world is he saying?” When you look closely, there are words interspersed among these marks.
Doodling can be therapeutic. It calms the mind and helps you focus. These may look like absentminded scribbles, but these are more than that. Doodling is a form of mindfulness and stress relief.
Flashback to college. Nancy, Ethel, Chiel, and I went to this music shop in Divisoria, a block from our university. I wanted a cassette tape of a band whose song title I didn’t know. I gave the band’s name, but the sales assistant couldn’t recall because it was a new song. Then I started to hum a few tunes from the chorus, which made Nancy panic and say, “Miss, ayaw tawon ni cya pakantaha, palihug. Mag lanog gyud. Palihug ko dumdum sa title, dali.”
Well, that was a different kind of tool. Sometimes, when words fail, a tune saves the day—if you have the voice.
Imagine yourself speaking in a big room. To keep your audience engaged, you need video or slide presentations. Visuals are powerful tools of communication. Combining words and visuals creates a powerful narrative, as skilled storytellers do.
Artists express themselves through paintings, dancing, and playing musical instruments. They find solace in these, and it helps to communicate their emotions. Colors evoke emotions and provide a powerful expression of feelings. That is what they call the psychology of colors.
Ever come across a post so ridiculous that you wanted to comment but couldn’t because it was from a relative? Ignoring it wasn’t an option either since they know you’ve seen it. The best response? A like, a thumbs-up, or a smiley face. Modern technology makes it easier for us to express our thoughts through emojis.
So, the next time words fail you, remember that a doodle, a tune, or even a simple emoji can speak volumes. After all, sometimes the best conversations are the ones without words.
