At 61 years of breathing I am just now sitting consciously with the quiet. What I called the quiet before was my story I made up where I stayed busy in the moments of quiet. The fear of embracing my own existence scared the quiet out of me. Growing up with addicted, depressed parents taught me quiet meant there was a vicious storm brewing with one of these parents and the wrath was in gear. So it was better to stay busy, and keep the noise going as to not be caught off-guard. Last week for the first time in many moons, I ate a meal in the quiet, one I had prepared myself. I found myself feeling safe and enjoyed the bubble of silence. I will continue to see where my silence takes me. It feels rare and new to feel safe in my own skin where silence is no longer a weapon yet a tool. Thank you my Glow for showing me another pregnant moment of pure joy. Xo
I really enjoy 'quiet'. There are days that I will go for walks with my phone and headphones but choose not to use them. There is something very soothing about listening to the sounds of early morning or the trees in the park. I find that I instinctively practice energy healing on myself at these times. I hate TV but I admit I have a podcast addiction. There are just so many amazing things to learn about, and I get terribly excited! I find myself obsessed with multi-tasking. I will blow dry my hair with noise-canceling headphones on so I can listen to a podcast at the same time. I am aware this type of behaviour (in addition to work) takes a toll on my nervous system, and at the end of the day, I can feel 'fried' triggering the urge to drink alcohol. One of my goals this year is to add in daily, technology-free nervous system breaks in attempt to regulate my system in a healthier way. I haven't given up drinking yet, but that is my goal and I realise 'quiet' plays a big part in achieving that. Thanks Mia, love your writing and the community you have created here. xx
I agree with your statement "so many things to learn about" - and I feel if I didn't have boundaries on it, I would be in a constant state of research. I love it, but you are right, it takes a toll on the nervous system. I can say, even after only a week off of IG, I feel clearer, more calm and I am way less stressed about time. And that's a big win for the nervous system.
A fellow only child with a single mama. I love being alone, but also sooth myself with TV and food (no longer the alcohol!) and have since I was an 8 yr old latchkey kid. And I see the correlation between my addiction to alcohol and my addiction to eating while watching TV. My awareness is helpful as I slowly and patiently put this pattern into check. Eating without the distraction is my next step and your words validate this. My word(s) for the this year and peace and pain. The first one is for my in breath and the second one is the release of my out breath.
peace and pain - in and out. Yes. As a kid I ate every meal in front of the TV or close by it, but ever since moving to CA we stopped that habit when we purchased our first real dinner table. Now, if I could only get the phones off the table.... work in progress. xx, M
Cooking has never been an interest of mine. It has always felt like a chore or like how some people feel about going to the dentist. I am grateful that my husband is a great cook however he doesn't always have the time. I've gotten better over the years (at cooking) but my attitude about cooking hasn't changed (chuckle). This year my word(s) are listening, surrendering (to the Universe) and deeper connections, silence being the main ingredient. I have told myself that cooking, doing dishes, laundry or any of those other mundane tasks are a perfect place to start with silence so that I can listen and connect to the inner voice.
Thank you for sharing! I just absolutely love the way you write and the stories/inspiration that you share! xo Jenni Harmon
Please tell me that you read this week’s newsletter about my word and my plans to become someone who actually can nourish herself through the act of cooking - because if not, I will send it to you. We couldn’t be more on the same page! I also agree that our ‘chores’ are a perfect way to enter into this silence that we all need so much. Thanks for being here and for such a beautiful and thoughtful comment. I adore it! Xx Mia
Not sure there’s anything scarier than being alone, plus in silence. Thanks for this article
At 61 years of breathing I am just now sitting consciously with the quiet. What I called the quiet before was my story I made up where I stayed busy in the moments of quiet. The fear of embracing my own existence scared the quiet out of me. Growing up with addicted, depressed parents taught me quiet meant there was a vicious storm brewing with one of these parents and the wrath was in gear. So it was better to stay busy, and keep the noise going as to not be caught off-guard. Last week for the first time in many moons, I ate a meal in the quiet, one I had prepared myself. I found myself feeling safe and enjoyed the bubble of silence. I will continue to see where my silence takes me. It feels rare and new to feel safe in my own skin where silence is no longer a weapon yet a tool. Thank you my Glow for showing me another pregnant moment of pure joy. Xo
Namafuckinste
I really enjoy 'quiet'. There are days that I will go for walks with my phone and headphones but choose not to use them. There is something very soothing about listening to the sounds of early morning or the trees in the park. I find that I instinctively practice energy healing on myself at these times. I hate TV but I admit I have a podcast addiction. There are just so many amazing things to learn about, and I get terribly excited! I find myself obsessed with multi-tasking. I will blow dry my hair with noise-canceling headphones on so I can listen to a podcast at the same time. I am aware this type of behaviour (in addition to work) takes a toll on my nervous system, and at the end of the day, I can feel 'fried' triggering the urge to drink alcohol. One of my goals this year is to add in daily, technology-free nervous system breaks in attempt to regulate my system in a healthier way. I haven't given up drinking yet, but that is my goal and I realise 'quiet' plays a big part in achieving that. Thanks Mia, love your writing and the community you have created here. xx
I agree with your statement "so many things to learn about" - and I feel if I didn't have boundaries on it, I would be in a constant state of research. I love it, but you are right, it takes a toll on the nervous system. I can say, even after only a week off of IG, I feel clearer, more calm and I am way less stressed about time. And that's a big win for the nervous system.
A fellow only child with a single mama. I love being alone, but also sooth myself with TV and food (no longer the alcohol!) and have since I was an 8 yr old latchkey kid. And I see the correlation between my addiction to alcohol and my addiction to eating while watching TV. My awareness is helpful as I slowly and patiently put this pattern into check. Eating without the distraction is my next step and your words validate this. My word(s) for the this year and peace and pain. The first one is for my in breath and the second one is the release of my out breath.
peace and pain - in and out. Yes. As a kid I ate every meal in front of the TV or close by it, but ever since moving to CA we stopped that habit when we purchased our first real dinner table. Now, if I could only get the phones off the table.... work in progress. xx, M
Cooking has never been an interest of mine. It has always felt like a chore or like how some people feel about going to the dentist. I am grateful that my husband is a great cook however he doesn't always have the time. I've gotten better over the years (at cooking) but my attitude about cooking hasn't changed (chuckle). This year my word(s) are listening, surrendering (to the Universe) and deeper connections, silence being the main ingredient. I have told myself that cooking, doing dishes, laundry or any of those other mundane tasks are a perfect place to start with silence so that I can listen and connect to the inner voice.
Thank you for sharing! I just absolutely love the way you write and the stories/inspiration that you share! xo Jenni Harmon
Please tell me that you read this week’s newsletter about my word and my plans to become someone who actually can nourish herself through the act of cooking - because if not, I will send it to you. We couldn’t be more on the same page! I also agree that our ‘chores’ are a perfect way to enter into this silence that we all need so much. Thanks for being here and for such a beautiful and thoughtful comment. I adore it! Xx Mia
Yes I read it and loved every ounce of it! (I meant to respond to that newsletter). xo Jenni