Tag Archive | Quietude

The Value of Quiet

Mar27

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As much as Time as I spend thinking about and talking about the value of quiet time, I have realized that recently, circumstances, or at least my view of them, have kept me from that much needed space of quiet.

Experience has shown me that if I stay away from practicing quietude for too long, it is increasingly difficult to get back into it. Only over time does the value of it begin to appear evident again.

Without quiet, and by that I mean quality quiet, there is just no space for new thoughts, or old thoughts, and sometimes for any thoughts. A classic over thinker, my husband is curious how one can go without thinking.

Not thinking, can be restful, but over time, it becomes a trap. Not thinking, muddles our minds over time. The trap is like serious brain fog for the thinking that we should be doing.

Last week I had to make a quality decision. That decision was not to ignore my quiet time for any reason; real or imagined. My mind, needs some serious un-muddling.

Until today, the thoughts have not been filing in very quickly. Today was a breakthrough day.

For my next post I’ll share some of those thoughts, but for this one, I’d like to ask you a question, or four, about yourself.

  • Over thinker or under thinker?
  • Do you know how much quiet time do YOU require?
  • Do you allow yourself that bit of quiet to sort things out?
  • What happens when you do/don’t?

I’d love to hear your reply. Please leave your answers in the comments.

Until next time – catch up on some Quietude.

 

 

 

 

Frozen February

Mar7

The world we live in will not give us a quiet place
to be, we have to find it for ourselves.

My hope is that this little video will
help us to find that quiescent place.

A quiet place to rest our body, our soul,
and our spirit, if only for a moment.

My gift to you. A few moments, in a quiet place.

 

If you enjoyed this time of Quietude, you can find more on YouTube at DeborahSPC

 

Red Sky at Morning

Feb5

Have you heard the saying “Red sky at morning is a sailors warning?”

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Beautiful, right? But what it does, at  least for me, is to make me check the weather forecast. Today, unfortunately, it means we’ll have ice. Lots of ice. Making travel quite treacherous, and cancelling a lot of well laid plans.

So what’s next? We check our resources, and make sure that we have what it takes to be inside our homes for the next little while. Food, toiletries, books, movies. All set.

But what of those who do not have the resources we have? What we prepare for, for our comfort, they must prepare for, for survival. No doubt, the shelters are preparing as well, in mass.

Fortunately, the town that we live near, has well planned out spaces for just such circumstances. Not only paid staff, but volunteers that give of their time and talents and hearts to make sure that these folks are safe throughout these times.

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What do you do when stormy times are approaching? 

Now to switch it up just a bit – What about “Reg flags” in the morning?

When you wake up in the morning on “The wrong side of the bed”, when you are getting out of bed and just want to crawl back in? When you still feel tired, or when your mind will not focus. When the noises your body make sounds like bubble wrap?

What are the resources you use to get your day into order? Can you do it?

For me, coffee is always the first place I go. That first cup of coffee is like starter fluid. But even with starter fluid, the day can be rough. So what’s next? I have a couple of ideas that help, when I do them!

Both have to do with “Quietude”. A cup of coffee and a peaceful place to sit. (I do have a chair for that.) No words. Quiet music, but no words. If there are words, my brain latches on to them, and away I go. Not quiet.

Now, this quiet time might be ten minutes, or it could be an hour. That all depends. When I’m ready for words, I’ll take out my Bible, and read a chapter, or two. More than that, and too many thoughts start going around in my mind. Not quiet. But out of that chapter or two, I’ll have a sense of something to focus on for the day. Many times that will get written down in my journal.

Daily devotionals, journaling, morning pages; seem to have a calming effect, and are often very helpful.

Let’s face it though, sometimes that “Red sky” or those “Red flags” are pesky and want to stick around. And you know what I’ve found? That is OK. Sometimes we just have to lay low, and care for ourselves in a different way.

For example, yesterday, I did all the things. The starter fluid. The “Quietude”, the Bible reading, the journaling. I ended up having to just do my list of work around the house, and not turn on any (Well not much) media at all. A little book reading and a really good nap in the afternoon. A much needed disconnect.

Today seems much better. What about your “Red skies” or “Red flags”? Share with us – what resources can you volunteer?