Silence sings to me – it always has.
I’m a loner and I’m comfortable with silence.
Noise, too much noise, fills this world and I often have to escape, which fits with my being a runner. I like the absence of noise and sometimes I need to escape to it.
A friend recently spoke of silence and asked are we human doings or human beings? I love this and it immediately resonates. We get too caught up in the doing that we forget to just be. When was the last time you allowed yourself to be..? When did you sit and listen, or watch, or just be?
© Lisa Shambrook
It’s no coincidence (well, it might be) that SILENT and LISTEN are spelled with the same letters…think about it, take a moment…
© Lisa Shambrook
When was the last time you listened to the rain pattering gently on the roof (probably not long ago if you’re in the UK…)? When did you last hear birdsong or soft wind whispering through the trees?
Ram Dass said The quieter you become, the more you can hear. I intrinsically liken this to nature, but think of the times we don’t notice another’s feelings, or their troubles, or even their joys, because we’re not listening.
We miss out if we’re too busy to take time out.
© Lisa Shambrook
Silence fits me. I like to write in silence, I like to sit by the ocean and watch a sunset or listen to the waves. I like to walk in the woods and hear the soft sounds of nature caress my senses.
Silence is a great source of strength – Lao Tzu. This quote speaks volumes, quietly, of course, both in being able to listen, to take time out and to curb our responses.
© Lisa Shambrook
Stephen Hawking said Quiet people have the loudest minds and I agree, my mind takes strength from silence and uses it to embrace me. My creativity, my writing, my soul needs quiet to allow the chaos within to still. But even when I’m quiet, even when I’m still: When I am silent I have thunder hidden inside – Rumi, thunder and lightning and beautiful chaos write their stories in my imagination and fill my mind with wonder.
© Lisa Shambrook
Moments of silence, of reflection, of contemplation and pondering allow my mind to muse and grow. I like to cultivate and embrace my moments of silence. How do you like yours?
© Lisa Shambrook
Take time to just be…
just be and breathe in the glorious wealth of nature, solitude and peace.
Just be…
The Last Krystallos 
i love this post thank you and i totally agree. People rush about their lives, usually with a mobile phone stuck to their ear, no one stops to listen anymore, listen with the quietness of their own hearts.
Thank you so much, it’s a real art to listen and appreciate all that goes on around us x
Reblogged this on firefly465 and commented:
Beautiful thoughts.
People only listen to respond. The art of active listening can be learnt – both to people and yourself. I require a lot of silence, more so as I have gotten older.
You’re very right, Miranda, sometimes I have to take time to actively listen, whether it be to those around me, myself, or just nature…but I always come out better! 🙂
I’ve always thought that far too many people don’t spend enough time just being–listening and observing. It’s been who I am my entire life and on more than one occasion my silence and reserved nature has been confused for disinterest and snobbery. LOL
Oh, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Amanda! I recall a teacher writing in my school report when I was fifteen that I was aloof and disinterested. I was devastated, and I took it to mean uninteresting too. It hurt. I was painfully shy and reserved which meant (and still does to a degree) that I didn’t generally speak until I was sure I was: a) liked, b) wanted, c) felt like my words would contribute something positive, and d) when I was sure I wouldn’t stutter.
I love being contemplative and quiet, but can make enough noise when I want to!
I love taking time out to just be…and experience everything going on around me…
Happy New Year!
Lovely post, Lisa. I love to take ‘silent’ time; it replenishes and rejuvenates me.
Thanks, Julia, it felt appropriate for the beginning of the year…a time to take stock 🙂
Hope your year’s starting well too x
Beautiful quotes and reflection. I love the quiet sounds of the world 🙂
Thank you, sometimes we need the quiet to reflect 🙂