JJ: Say No More

Thirty minutes into the jazz quartet's set, no band member had spoken a word. Yet the communication among the four was flawless and the mixture of sax, piano, drums, and bass was "speaking" to the crowd through melodies and patterns. A nod of the head, a tap of the foot, a point of a finger, or just a glance that said, "You went there with that chord?" Sweet. The notes, rhythm, and style told a story—all without one word being uttered and with sheet music nowhere in sight.

Finally, the leader of the group took the mic: "Folks always tell me to address the crowd," he said in a near whisper. "People get finicky when you don't say anything. Well, if you want to hear a talk, go to a lecture." A finger snap and a tap of the foot propelled the quartet into another hour of jazz.

You know that guy at the office who finishes his work and doesn't talk about it? What about the triathlete who trains hard and consistently places in her age group but doesn't brag about her feats? Or the woman at the gym who has committed herself to losing weight but doesn't strut around with a sign saying, "Hey, everybody, look at me." These people go about their business, letting their actions do their talking and feeling content with the knowledge that they're making progress. They're enjoying the journey. What these humble people are "saying" through their silent examples drowns out the noise. Know what I'm saying?