Why is it that once a child hits age 5 they can no longer go without making a sound for longer than 30 seconds? Princess Punky, the 5 year old, will make noise from the time she gets up until the time she goes to bed. She will sing or hum or talk. Now, there don't have to be actual words, songs or phrases. She will make up words, hum or repeat a sound or two word phrase...over and over and over.
Why is it that we have difficulty finding comfort in silence? What is so wrong about the stillness that makes us feel the need to fill the void? As a child the quiet is the reminder that there is no one to play with...or simply a chance to get attention. But, as an adult why is it that the moment we wake up we turn on the "news", or when we get in the car we immediately turn on the radio - even when someone is with us? Why must the silence be filled with background noise or music? We try to fill the empty spaces even when we speak - how many times do you say "well", "um", "er" or "like" in a sentence when you are thinking of the next thing to say or when there should normally be a pause?
Silence gives us time to reflect - on the things that have happened, should happen or what we want to happen. It makes us take stock of our lives and actually take the time to FEEL and process the world around us instead of mindlessly running on auto pilot. The stillness even forces you to be aware of things that sometimes you are trying to ignore. You know, the giant pink gorilla in the corner of the room? It is becoming increasingly harder and harder to find some "peace and quiet" with cell phones, laptops, wi-fi, iPhones, iPads, iPods - we all have some electronic device permanently attached to our face! Modern day living has removed the "peace and quiet" from our lives - so much so that when we DO find it, we haven't a clue what to do.
We all must learn to embrace the silence. FEEL what it is like in the silence and stillness. Look that pink gorilla in the face...and shake hands.
"In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness." Mahatma Gandhi
