Without great solitude, no serious work is possible. – Pablo Picasso
The Sound of Silence
When you think of silence does it make you uncomfortable? or does it feel you with a sense of relief? Do you enjoy it? or absolutely hate it?
It's May. And as seems to happen each & every year, our calendars find themselves full to the brink, busting at the seems with NO margin for taking a simple breath. Each year I find myself writing an article for this month's newsletter and it's all about relaxing or unplugging or overcoming the busyness of life...and I guess this year is really no different.
This morning and in the past few weeks I've been reminded of the importance of silence and how there didn't seem to be space for it right now. There's noise everywhere. It's music or screens, television or podcasts, your children or your coworkers, or maybe it's just your brain that you can't seem to quiet down. And so this morning, on my 20 minute drive to work I made the choice to create some silence. I turned the radio off and drove in complete stillness. And I think I'll do it again tomorrow, and the next day and the next day.
I spent my drive thinking & praying & mulling over decisions and plans that are currently on my plate. I thought about & prayed for our kids and other valuable relationships in my life. I also just drove for a little bit, trying to think of literally NOTHING.
I certainly won't pretend that I solved all of the world's problems in that short 20 minutes, but I walked in to work feeling a whole lot more relaxed and at peace with the day ahead. If you can't find silence in your schedule, get creative...maybe you just need to turn down the volume for a few minutes.
