When was the last time you sat still and quietly noticed your surroundings?
I learned to be still when I lived in Nigeria. It was the mid-80s. There were few distractions. No tv, no radio, no movies, few books, and even fewer places for entertainment. In the evenings, I would sit on the steps of my front porch with a cup of tea and gaze around the school compound. I noticed the changing foliage on the trees, the sound of the cicadas and birds, the voices of those living in the compound, and the night sky’s vastness.
That wasn’t all I noticed. On other nights, I was aware of the noise in my head. The space in my head filled with why, how come, continuing arguments long past, self-judgement, and judgement of others. You know what I mean.
It wasn’t until later, as often happens, that I realized how precious those quiet evenings were. I was aware that the mental noise faded, and there were more quiet moments. In this moment of silence, I recognized the gift I was given.
Now, I can sit still in any environment and notice the flow of life around me. In this silence, we really see, hear, smell and feel what is happening.
Make time to sit and open up to the flow of life around you.
With love and gratiude,
Carolynne