Silence, Revisited

Today I am grateful for morning coolness during unseasonably warm weather, recovery friends and wisdom and laughter we share, and for silence.

I wrote about silence in my most recent post: The Silence and Generosity of September

More wisdom on the topic revealed itself in recent days. These two quotes are from the “Word for the Day” from Grateful Living.

WORD FOR THE DAY — 10/1/23

Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence in us, not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal. The sort of silence that is a place of refuge, of rest, of acceptance of someone as they are. We are all hungry for this other silence.

-RACHEL NAOMI REMEN-

WORD FOR THE DAY — 10/2/23

Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don’t claim them.

Feel the artistry moving through and be silent.

-JALALUDDIN RUMI-

Silence. Silence in my head on a bike ride means I can hear more –like leaves crunching under bike tires, a leaf drifting lazily and quietly to the ground, leaves on tree branches creating a rustling orchestra. The silence within allows me to better take in the world around me.

The silence I may struggle with most, besides silencing my overthinking brain when it is on a rant, is keeping my mouth shut when my words are unnecessary and unsolicited. Listen longer Lisa. Be quiet and just take in what the other person is saying. Undivided attention is a wonderful gift to give another, and silence is key to it.

Find the refuge in silence. Acceptance is not loud, but rather quiet. Observe Nature and all of life. It is indeed a rich artistry.

In the still and silent moments, our hearts and souls reveal themselves. I don’t know about you, but I would like to hear what they have to say.