Silence

Silence.   It's so rare in my life!  I really can't count the number of TV's, video games, appliances, cell phones, and Ipods all constantly making noise around me!  This is just inside, then there's the outside noises, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, car alarms, and more.  You can't even have dinner at a nice restaurant anymore without cell phones ringing and people talking on them at full volume.

Today's noisy lifestyle is leading to higher levels of stress, and an increase in hearing problems.  I came across this organization while doing research for this blog, check out The Right to Quiet Society .  I have to spend more time looking into this organization, but I love their premise! 

It's not always easy to sit in silence.  After years of constant noise, it takes some practice.  It can be uncomfortable at first, white noise can numb your feelings, distract your thoughts, and cover sensations that the silence may reveal.  Start a few minutes a day, getting comfortable in your own company.  Increase the quiet time as you get more comfortable.  It will allow your energies to calm down, and instill self awareness. Silence is valuable, critical to our sleep, health and well being.  It creates clarity, and strengthens your ability to focus.  Eventually you'll come to love the sensations of being alone! 

Imagine those quiet evenings, just you and the night sky.  The air is still, the only sound is the clinking of your wine glass when you reach for it!  Sitting contemplative is amazing, sometimes silence like that even gets "loud".  You start out the evening high-strung and talkative, and finish it up restful and calm.


According to the World Health Organization:
 "Excessive noise seriously harms human health and interferes with people’s daily activities at school, at work, at home and during leisure time. It can disturb sleep, cause cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects, reduce performance and provoke annoyance responses and changes in social behaviour." 
http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/environmental-health/noise

There's also the added benefit of keeping silent to keep yourself out of trouble!

Live as if Time is Infinite!


"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."


- Xenocrates (396-314 B.C.)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1631878.htm

http://www.alive.com/6122a15a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=5

http://www.newswise.com/articles/less-noise-at-home-better-adjusted-kids