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| I like to lose myself in the beauty of nature when I can. |
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the importance of silence in life. True, it’s probably because I don’t have any in my life. But it appears to me that many people, especially young people, seem afraid to embrace solitude, to do nothing and just listen to their thoughts for a while. I still substitute teach, and I find a lot of high school students listening to ear buds, music spilling out of both buds and students.
Silence allows the mind to roam through memories, think about family and friends, consider knowledge accumulated, nature around us, or maybe even the world. I understand the need to interact with others. Humans are a social animal, after all. Social media allows for a further group of contemporaries, but sometimes, I think there is a need to be by yourself and just listen to what’s going on in your head and perhaps your heart.
Ancient Greek philosophers and British Romantic Poets, to name but a few, were lucky enough to find the silence in life and expound upon it. True. They were mostly male, their careers consisted of sitting and thinking, and daily needs were met by servants. Still contemporary writers should try and find some alone time to think.
Here’s a challenge for you, and believe me it is a challenge. Find an hour of quiet and immerse yourself in it. It doesn’t need to be daily, although that would be wonderful. Two or three times a week will do. Turn off the television or radio. Hide in the closet if you need to. I do. I choose the utility closet. I don’t have to worry about anyone looking for the vacuum. No one vacuums unless I beg.
Occasionally I’m discovered, before my hour is up, when a child dumps over a dead houseplant and needs the dust pan and broom. I know; I should be happy about that. But she snitches before picking up the dust pan every time.
“I found her!”
This is why I’ve taken to hiding in the local library when I can. Except it’s not as quiet as it used to be. Now libraries seem to be gathering places and tutoring centers.
I think a little silence in life might be the easiest way to hear your life story, understand your thoughts, possibly even discover something new about yourself and thus help someone else through your writings.
I hope your 2015 is starting off just right and that you can find a little silence in your life to enjoy.
I like silence more as I get older, but I used to hate it when I was younger. I think it's critical for the writer. Nice post! I hope people take the challenge.
Thank you, Theresa. I hope people take the challenge, too. I agree that as I age, I seek out silence more, especially in nature. Writers, of course, need silence if only to hear themselves think. Thanks again for visiting my Adventures in Writing.
I think that silence is important. I agree it is hard to find silence nowadays.
I so agree with you about the value of silence. I've always enjoyed periods of silence even when I was younger. I do like music playing frequently and often I'll listen to talk radio most of the day, but sometimes it's nice to shut down the sound as much as I can to just tune into the ambient sound around me–and I live in an urban area so it's impossible to get rid of all sound.
Sometimes though just to sit in silence–and even darkness–I can journey to the deeper places within myself and it can be a wonderfully calming and meditative state. You want real silence, go down into a cave or cavern or out into a desert away from the roads. The silence can be as loud as anything I've heard. It's amazing.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Silence is golden! As I go older I find that I like silence more and more now.
Isn't it, though. Yes, silence is important in life. Sometimes, a person just needs to find it to see. Thanks so much, Michelle, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog.
Welcome, Arlee, to my Adventures in Writing Blog. Thank you so much for your comment. I also valued silence as a child. I enjoy music and talk radio, but I especially like to listen to books on tape/disc, possibly because I can listen to more story than I can read at one sitting. And I like to analyze the plot as I listen.
I like to listen to silence in the dark, hence my hiding in the closet when I get the chance. I'm not too sure I'd like to listen to the quiet of a cave. I've been in a few. I prefer the fresh air of nature, particularly forests and mountains. This photograph was taken in the Canadian Rockies. I agree that deserts can be loud in their silence, and particularly interesting to hike through. Thanks again for visiting, Arlee. Please stop by again.
So do I, Nas. So do I. If only to hear what I'm thinking about. Thanks so much for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog.
This was just such a wonderful, relate-able read. I think I seek out quite more than most people. It's something I must have daily, and a lot of it. There are times though when something happens and I can't get to that quiet place. What a difference in my spirit, too! Nice post.
Lisa, hello and welcome to my Adventures in Writing blog. Thank you so much for your kind words. I would say that most days, I'd like quite a bit of quiet. It doesn't happen though. I believe quiet is essential to the spirit, for how else can we hear what it is saying. Thanks again for visiting and joining my Adventures in Writing blog. It is greatly appreciated.
Dropped by again to say 'hi!'
I agree, there is something valuable in quiet time. Society as a whole does not embrace it well, and I think it could make a big difference in stress levels, how we approach life, etc.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and following. It's great to meet you! Looking forward to following your blog as well. Have a great week!
Thank you, Nas. Always wonderful to see you here at Adventures in Writing. I've been busy revising my memoir about attending college with five children in tow and will have a post up on my blog shortly. Again, always great to see you!
Karen, hello and welcome to my Adventures in Writing blog. I agree. Quiet time is a necessity in life, a necessity that society doesn't seem to understand. A need to quiet the noise of life to be able to hear what is important inside oneself.
Thank you for joining my blog. It's great to meet you, too! Thank you for your kind words. Have a great week.
I thrive on silence. My kids say I hate music but I don't, it's that I love silence.
Ohmygosh do I agree with you, Karen. I tell my children this, too. I can't write and listen to music or read and listen to music. I'm concentrating on what I'm doing. However, I'm always impressed when others can do this. But I like my quiet. I do listen to books on tape/cd when I do household chores, though. Thanks so much for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a comment. It is greatly appreciated.