Monday, November 26, 2012

Savoring the Silence




"Stillness is the native language of creativity, yet it's astonishing how we try to avoid silence."
-Kevin Kaiser


Silence is hard to come by. With black Friday, begins the season of busyness; a time when most of us get caught up, at least to some degree, in a whole array of activities that can easily lose their meaning if we're not careful.  Yet for something so rare, I don't think we value silence like we should. We're quick to fill quiet moments with music, television, or even conversation. But that calm is like a little bit of treasure unearthed in the midst of a hectic day. Next time you find yourself in a quiet moment, think before you fill it up. It could be within that stillness you'll discover an idea or find a connection within yourself that's even more valuable than one of those black Friday deals.    

Do you have trouble savoring the silence?


41 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Typos before. Let's try this again-
      To answer your question-

      "Do you have trouble savoring the silence?"

      Yes, I do. But in my case, some white noise (Music or Podcast/Talk Radio is mandatory for me to drown the arguments of relatives I live with, only when they go out for medical appointments do I ever experience true silence, and even then, I do other things, rather than writing.

      But next time they go out for a couple hours I will use that time to write in total silence, not even music, wish me luck, Ruth.

      Delete
    2. Taurean, Thanks so much for stopping by and chiming in. I do understand that silence can be hard to come by. I wish you all the best in making the most of it the next time you have the opportunity.

      Delete
  2. I love this post, Ruth. With two busy kids, it's rarely quiet around here. Your post is a good reminder for me, that it's not only good, but necessary, to carve out a little quiet time each day to reflect and to write. I'm off to do that now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do enjoy it, Laura. Those rare quiet moments need to fuel us up and keep us running until the next time ;)

      Delete
  3. I love silence, and I sometimes think a little TOO much. With the kids in high school now and busy after school with sports, I get plenty of quiet on the days I don't substitute teach. I leave the TV and radio off, which is necessary if I'm writing. I can't write at home with noise. In the car, I leave the radio off, preferring the quiet to concentrate on thoughts. My husband and kids are supreme noisemakers, so the solitude is a good balance for the chaos that follows when they're around!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your house sounds a lot like my own, Dawn. When I am home I leave everything turned off, but when my daughters or husband are home the TV is usually on. And with a small house, there is nowhere to go where I won't hear it!

      Delete
  4. Yes. I definitely have to work at getting some quiet time. And you are right, Ruth, we really need it, especially around the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm another who loves silence maybe too much. Without enough of it, I quickly become just a "doing machine," and I'm not activity-oriented enough to thrive that way. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Marcia, that term, "doing machine" is spot on. Feeling like that is so draining. So thankful for the quiet moments that refresh and restore.

      Delete
  6. I'm one of those people that gets my battery charged by being alone with my own thoughts. However, like many folks, the holiday season has a way of stealing those special silent moments from me. Thanks for this beautiful reminder as we enter the season of celebrations. Have a great week, Ruth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The holiday season does have a way of making us crazy, if we let it. But if we actively seek out those quiet moments, I believe they can be found. You have a great week, too, Victoria.

      Delete
  7. I think I naturally gravitate toward the silence, but my mind is always on overdrive. I need to work at the inner silence part!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the silence now kids are in school and really nervous about inlaws staying with us soon. I get so anxious without any peace. I'll have to be a peace ninja!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get anxious about things getting hectic too. I do hope you'll still be able to find the peaceful moments you need.

      Delete
  9. The sound of Hush.... Essential for creative people. I discovered it anew this summer, and plan to take another E-break in March.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Mirka. I found my first E-break very refreshing.

      Delete
  10. I like to take walks along the beach in the winter. It's not completely silent, but I get such a sense of silence from it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean, Katie. I often stop at the beach on my way home. Even if I don't have time to get out of the car, I roll down the window enough to hear the soothing sounds of the ocean and the seagulls.

      Delete
  11. I've been trying to go lay on my patio chair every night and just look at the stars. The silence fills my heart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to go out and lay in the hammock and look up at the stars and the treetops. Those time are almost magical.

      Delete
  12. I don't have any trouble savoring silence - I just have trouble finding it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We really have to seek it out sometimes, don't we?!

      Delete
  13. I'm with Susanna! Finding a quiet spot other than my own home is almost impossible. Even the libraries are noisy these days. I savor those pre-dawn hours before phones ring and cars start up. Silence is yummy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't bring myself to get up early enough to enjoy pre-dawn silence. Maybe someday ;)

      Delete
  14. My only problem with silence is that it allows my brain to start thinking worrying thoughts. Music lifts my spirits too so I'm afraid I do have an issue with silence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've definitely struggled with that in the past myself Rosalind - needing the music almost to drown my own thoughts out. Now I'm just enjoying the silence savoring place I'm in for the moment - or however long it lasts.

      Delete
  15. I'm home, savoring silence, after six days of planes, automobiles, and visits with friends. The out-and-about time was wonderful, but I need quiet to refill the well. Thanks for the reminder, Ruth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The quiet is all that much more important after a streak of busyness, isn't it?! Rest well! And thanks for stopping by, Pat.

      Delete
  16. Silence is golden! so true in my home where I have one noisy husband, one injured but scarcely silent Corgi, one Himaylan cat who purrs loud enough at night to wake us up, and two parrots, a Macaw and an African Gray, for whom the word "quiet" is not in their many-worded vocabularies. I try to close myself up in the office, but it's also husband's office and when he comes in, he has to "share" everything! I'm afraid I don't have much of that "golden" time LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yikes, Mikki! That's a lot of noise to contend with. My friend had a bird once and that thing drove me crazy. You must be good at tuning things out. LoL.

      Delete
  17. This is so interesting that you should mention this. I don't get much silence in my day and when I do at nights, I'm usually writing. I do savor those moments and I need to find more of them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find most of my quiet moments in the evening as well, Christina.

      Delete
  18. Your post spoke to my heart. I spend as much time as possible in silence for many reasons. So many people are uncomfortable with silence. But, it is in the silence where the creativity may flow. Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad this post resonated with you, Patricia. I've had plenty of times in my life where I filled up the silence with noise, but am thankful to be able to enjoy the silence right now. It is so nourishing.

      Delete
  19. Great post! Silence truly is golden. I find I most appreciate it when I am writing. Otherwise, I do have a tendency to fill quiet times with music, etc., unless I make a conscientious effort to be in stillness.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Not one bit, I never have a problem savoring silence! I have no kids so my life is pretty silent most of the time. However, my dogs bark at every leaf so I really do enjoy my silence when they are quiet! And I do require complete silence when I'm reading or writing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ruth, another beautiful post that really speaks to me. I have no problem savoring silence, but I know a number of people who don't know the meaning of a "companionable silence" and feel the need to fill every moment with chatter. And those who have television or stereo going every waking moment. Sad really, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  22. I could almost feel the peace flowing from your words.

    ReplyDelete