Q U I E T
Quiet... a mostly non-existent concept for most people.
Before I truly understood how important it was for me to have quiet time and that my soul, body and mind needed it, I too was sceptical. I believed that I had to be busy all the time. That sitting and doing nothing and in silence was a waste of time. I love music so I'd always have music playing, or the TV would be going even if the kids were not around. There was always always background noise. It was never just .... quiet.
Then I had a breakdown.
And I retreated into my head for long periods of time. And in there I learnt to listen to the silence because I got tired of listening to the voices in my head telling me how useless I was. So the silence was better. In the silence I could find peace and contentment. Not necessarily happiness at that stage but that was okay, contentment was okay.
But I also found something else in the silence.
I found myself again.
I found I could exist without all the extra noise of the music and TV as well. That at times it was good to just be silent and still. Just watching the light or laying quietly on my bed. Learning to tune out the noises around me. I still haven't gotten the hang of meditation so it really does take practise for me to listen to the silence. I am also a restless person by nature and anxious so I have got to talk myself into sitting still and not thinking about the million of things I should be doing instead.
But finding myself is of far more benefit than making sure the dresser is dusted so I will rather sit and listen.
As I can now enjoy the silence for what it is I am slowly introducing quiet activities. As I said in a previous blog I want to learn to knit. I'm also colouring in - which may seem childish but is in fact very therapeutic. These are mindless but mindful activities which are good for my soul, mind and body and give me much needed quiet time to just be. Sometimes I think difficult things through, other times I put them aside and just be in the moment. And in truth that is what mindful living is about - being present in the moment.
We all need to learn the value of quiet time. A time to just be with ourselves. To reflect and understand where we are and how we got there. Where we are headed and how we would like to get there. To make important decisions which need our full attention and not just a passing random thought. These quiet times also allow us to listen to our bodies and pinpoint areas which need extra care and attention at that time. Maybe you haven't really noticed that aching knee in all the rushing around you do and this gives you the time to really pay attention to the care your body is asking of you.
The quote at the top is so true, how will you understand what your heart is saying if you have never been quiet enough to hear its beat?
So be quiet.