As I write this article, my lips are zipped. Don’t get me
wrong, it was a choice, not a compulsion.
I woke up this morning disorientated. The new academic year
and new responsibilities had kept me on my toes all week and had wreaked havoc
in my head; I was feeling insecure and a lot of self-doubt was flooding through
the grey cells. I just wanted to sulk the entire day, which is quite the
opposite of my annoyingly happy self. I was sure I could convince everyone that
insomnia was the reason behind my grumpiness. The only obstacle I was sure to
face was my best friend; she can smell my mood from a distance. I knew she would
demand an explanation and I wouldn’t have one because I couldn’t quite put my
finger on what was bothering me.
Lo and behold, to my rescue came my Professor! As a part of
our class in Social Psychology, she challenged us to violate a social norm and
observe peoples’ reactions to it. Many hilarious examples were discussed and
she encouraged us to watch seemingly absurd social experiments online. I couldn’t
believe my luck; karma works in a dizzyingly rapid rate now! I have a reason to
remain quiet, no questions asked. And so began my 12 hours of silence, 9 am to
9 pm.
