Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Monday, April 17, 2023
Quiet
My One Word for 2023 is Explore. In the spirit of exploration, I made the decision not to stop at one word this year - but to also have a word for each month.
During April, I have been exploring the word Quiet.
Life can feel overwhelmingly loud sometimes. As I write this, I'm hearing the lawnmower in the yard, the neighbor kids yelling as they play, and my dogs barking at who-know-what outside the window. Wherever you are at any given time - there may be conversations, television, music, traffic, or crowds. There's the 24 hour news cycle, social media and streaming entertainment. Even the voices in our own heads can be very loud.
This is a challenge for me, because I am very much a person who depends on background noise throughout my day. Whether it's the television, an audio book, or music - I like to have something making noise while I work on other things.
I am intentionally seeking Quiet moments in my day. Turning off as much of the exterior noise as possible and enjoying the stillness that is left in its place. Listening for and appreciating the sounds of silence - the rustle of wind through the new leaves on the trees, the chirping of birds, or my own breathing.
The hardest part of finding Quiet has been the voices in my own head - especially the negative ones. I am trying to find ways for quieting the fears, doubts, insecurities, and worries in order to make a bigger space for gratitude and joy.
A few years ago I was doing regular meditation, but recently I let that habit slip away. It's something I would like to get back to. Those few minutes of being quiet and still. Finding the quiet space inside myself. I haven't done it yet, but for the second half of the month I am going to prioritize it as part of my morning routine.
Do you enjoy the quiet or do you prefer to have the background sound?
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Warmer Mornings
I am so excited to see the calendar telling me that it is Spring. (even though it hasn’t exactly felt like it on most days yet) Spring means warmer days. Warmer mornings.
I look forward to taking my morning quiet time outside onto the back porch. Just me, a cup of coffee, and my Bible. Oh… and the morning sun, the birds, and the spring breeze.
I look forward to taking my morning quiet time outside onto the back porch. Just me, a cup of coffee, and my Bible. Oh… and the morning sun, the birds, and the spring breeze.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
New Every Morning
As the mornings have gotten cooler, I have missed sitting on my back porch in the mornings for my quiet time.
Sitting out there in those early morning hours, it's easy to see the hand print of God.
"They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3:23
You can see his work in the trees, the sunlight, the birds coming to the feeder.
You can hear it in the breeze, the bird songs, the soft clucking of the chickens.
Sometimes I can even feel His Spirit here with me.
God makes Himself known to us in subtle ways.
He is always all around us - with us. We just have to stop, look, and listen to feel Him there.
"Be still, and know that I am God" ~ Psalm 46:10
Sitting out there in those early morning hours, it's easy to see the hand print of God.
"They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3:23
You can see his work in the trees, the sunlight, the birds coming to the feeder.
You can hear it in the breeze, the bird songs, the soft clucking of the chickens.
Sometimes I can even feel His Spirit here with me.
God makes Himself known to us in subtle ways.
He is always all around us - with us. We just have to stop, look, and listen to feel Him there.
"Be still, and know that I am God" ~ Psalm 46:10
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hitting the Small Time
Definition of SMALL-TIME: insignificant in performance, scope, or standing. - Merriam-Webster.com
Recently I found myself pondering as to why some blogs are so small (I like the term personal), while others gain a much larger following.
The ones that hit the "Big Time" get a column after column, and row after row full of tiny photos in the "Followers" section. They get comment after comment, with reply after reply to those comments. They get featured on other websites. Some of them end up being interviewed on various talk and news programs. Some even find themselves on the cover of Time magazine (ahem... yeh...quite enough has already been said on that, I think).
What's the difference between all those blogs and this little cluster of thoughts I have going here? After a bit of careful consideration - I think I've figured out two very possible reasons why I'll never make it big or get rich as a blogger.
First, I write like I talk. What I think in my head, I type with my fingers. It's sometimes not grammatically correct. (OK, maybe it's often not grammatically correct) I use incomplete sentences. I use a lot of contractions. I say and type word like "nothin'" and "y'all". My former English teachers would probably be appalled at what is on the screen after I hit 'Publish".
Second (and I think this is the Key), I'm not controversial enough. I don't write flaming posts filled with my personal opinions. I don't write entire series of posts about politics, religion, or any of the other hot button topics of our day. I don't write posts which incite or inspire people to comment. Or share through other social media outlets.
I'm accepting that I am just a quiet, moderate, small time blogger. I write about the things that happen to me and the things I know about my quiet, moderate life. That's all I've got people. And I'm much more than OK with that.
As I write this, I have the song "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel blasting away in my head. (The Man of the House will be so proud! LOL) :
"The place where I come from is a small town.
They think so small
They use small words
But not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
To let those big words come right out"
Recently I found myself pondering as to why some blogs are so small (I like the term personal), while others gain a much larger following.
The ones that hit the "Big Time" get a column after column, and row after row full of tiny photos in the "Followers" section. They get comment after comment, with reply after reply to those comments. They get featured on other websites. Some of them end up being interviewed on various talk and news programs. Some even find themselves on the cover of Time magazine (ahem... yeh...quite enough has already been said on that, I think).
What's the difference between all those blogs and this little cluster of thoughts I have going here? After a bit of careful consideration - I think I've figured out two very possible reasons why I'll never make it big or get rich as a blogger.
First, I write like I talk. What I think in my head, I type with my fingers. It's sometimes not grammatically correct. (OK, maybe it's often not grammatically correct) I use incomplete sentences. I use a lot of contractions. I say and type word like "nothin'" and "y'all". My former English teachers would probably be appalled at what is on the screen after I hit 'Publish".
Second (and I think this is the Key), I'm not controversial enough. I don't write flaming posts filled with my personal opinions. I don't write entire series of posts about politics, religion, or any of the other hot button topics of our day. I don't write posts which incite or inspire people to comment. Or share through other social media outlets.
I'm accepting that I am just a quiet, moderate, small time blogger. I write about the things that happen to me and the things I know about my quiet, moderate life. That's all I've got people. And I'm much more than OK with that.
As I write this, I have the song "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel blasting away in my head. (The Man of the House will be so proud! LOL) :
"The place where I come from is a small town.
They think so small
They use small words
But not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
To let those big words come right out"
Friday, February 10, 2012
Empty Spaces
I have two brass lantern-style candle lamps on my mantel. They were once a treasured bargain find from 'Tuesday Morning'. Now, I just find them tired looking. Something which I don't even think much about unless it's that they need dusted or polished. I don't care much for dusting or polishing; and it's because of this that I have decided it's time to find them a new home. I was thinking about just that very thing this morning - moving the lamps off the mantel and on to the local Goodwill, perhaps. The natural progression of that chain of thought seemed to be considering what else would go in their place. I had no ideas and began thinking that maybe nothing should go there. Maybe I would just like some empty space.
Oddly enough, the next thought that popped into my head was how it would be nice to have some empty space in my life as well. Space with no need to/have to/want to moving me along. Empty space to just sit and be still. No obligation looming. No chore that needs to be completed. No where to be. Time to just sit in the silence. Enjoying the quiet buzzing around us, listen to the birds, hear the breeze, the quiet whisper of God in my ear, or just my own thoughts. Time to just BE. Filled with absolutely nothing.
So many of us fill every waking moment with busyness. Activities. Places to go and things to do. When was the last time we left room for some empty spaces?
Oddly enough, the next thought that popped into my head was how it would be nice to have some empty space in my life as well. Space with no need to/have to/want to moving me along. Empty space to just sit and be still. No obligation looming. No chore that needs to be completed. No where to be. Time to just sit in the silence. Enjoying the quiet buzzing around us, listen to the birds, hear the breeze, the quiet whisper of God in my ear, or just my own thoughts. Time to just BE. Filled with absolutely nothing.
So many of us fill every waking moment with busyness. Activities. Places to go and things to do. When was the last time we left room for some empty spaces?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Calm After The Storm
Shhh... do you hear that? Yeah, neither do I.
That, my friends, is the sound of silence. My house is once again quiet. After 5 days of endless chatter, laughter, people coming and going, and even a little yelling - silence now hangs heavy in the air. After the madness and mayhem of Christmas I enjoying taking a few minutes to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and feel it all around me. It's peaceful. I can hear my own thoughts again.
My home still looks as if Christmas walked in and threw up in each and every room. The fridge is still packed full of leftovers which must be dealt with. And yes, there are still a few gifts that need to be packaged up and delivered. But all that can wait for a bit.
For just now, I revel in the nothingness of the moment.
That, my friends, is the sound of silence. My house is once again quiet. After 5 days of endless chatter, laughter, people coming and going, and even a little yelling - silence now hangs heavy in the air. After the madness and mayhem of Christmas I enjoying taking a few minutes to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and feel it all around me. It's peaceful. I can hear my own thoughts again.
My home still looks as if Christmas walked in and threw up in each and every room. The fridge is still packed full of leftovers which must be dealt with. And yes, there are still a few gifts that need to be packaged up and delivered. But all that can wait for a bit.
For just now, I revel in the nothingness of the moment.
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