What a couple of weeks, you guys. I performed La Traviata with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra and the Cleveland Opera, that was great, and now we’re prepping for our Severance Hall Concert, which is going to be spectacular.
I also spent much of this week writing a very difficult piece which, ultimately, I scrapped. After discussing it with a couple close friends, I realized it was a piece that was important for me to write, for closure, but that it wasn’t a piece that I needed to release into the world.
Sometimes as a writer of personal essays, especially having done it for so long, it can be hard to know when to stop revealing. Because I’ve already revealed so much, it’s tempting to just keep going. But not this time!
Instead, I ended up writing this piece about things I can’t write about. I hope you read it and enjoy!
Rivki Silver ~ thoughts & music 
Hi Rivki!!
I just want to let you know that I love your writings! You are so creative, genuine, smart, inspiring, and the “list” goes on and on.
I wanted to wish you a Chag Kasher V’Samayach!
I recently wrote a poem that may resonate with the idea that you brought out over here. I wanted to share it with you.
*To Share Or Not To Share – That Is My Question* In a world surrounded by news in our faces Life events become public in all sorts of places When seeking approval, a “like” response that comes fast Privacy and secrecy become something of the past
A balance placed before us each time our life events occur Share, confide, or keep quiet? I’m not always sure The choice comes from looking at my motivation Do I thrive on what others think or long for validation
Confidentiality is my decision to share or hold back Finding someone I trust can help me stay on track My gut feeling will tell me when to set boundaries and limits My heart knows where vulnerability or privacy sits
There’s a safe feeling of getting something off my chest A relief in putting my worries and insecurities to rest Sometimes I prefer not letting my secrets be known Avoid getting hurt, feeling exposed, and keeping my self-respect shown
Anonymity is not only protecting myself and my life It’s maintaining other’s secrets of happiness or strife A natural urge to ask or to share about others we can sometimes feel Can be avoided when conversations turn from people to ideas that are real
We can change the trend of our generation Protecting our speech is a Torah foundation Our mouths are powerful tools with endless potential I ask for clarity in choosing to share or keep things confidential
All the best!!! Zahava List
On Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 1:26 PM, Rivki Silver ~ thoughts & music wrote:
> Rivki Silver posted: “What a couple of weeks, you guys. I performed La > Traviata with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra and the Cleveland Opera, that > was great, and now we’re prepping for our Severance Hall Concert, which is > going to be spectacular. I also spent much of this wee” >
Zahava! So wonderful to hear from you! I hope your Pesach was fabulous!!! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful words!!!