For a long
time, for years, I dreaded sitting in silence because I was so tired that the
only way I could ignore it was to keep noise on, keep some distraction while I
worked and when I was taking breaks. The minute I’d turn off the noise, I’d
feel how exhausted I was and start to cry.
Now, I
still get tired, but I’ve cut out things over the past year or so, and I’ve
tried to get more sleep. The more I’ve cut down on social media and hanging out
online, the more time I have to work and the more time I have to play/sleep/do
other things. I still hang out on Twitter too much, but I admit it—it’s fun,
and I like it. But I have been trying to limit my time there so I have more
time for me.
Anyway, so
I was outside tonight, breathing, letting my mind drift, realizing that now, I
love the chance to sit silent, by myself, especially when it’s warm enough to
be outside. There’s something incredibly calming about just sitting, surrounded
by the trees and plants in my yard, occasionally having the neighbor cat—Tank—coming
over to visit and play, and just…being.
I get the
same reaction sitting by the ocean. The crash of the waves is the most
beautiful music I can think of.
So where
are your breathing spaces? What environments make you slow down, rest, and
recharge?
Yasmine
6 comments:
Being an introvert, I need a lot of breathing space. My lunch breaks at work are wonderful for that. Walking to and from the bus every day is also such a time. Strangely, if I am home I rarely take such time for myself. Not good when it also seems to become less time for meditation and being with my Unseen allies.
-Soli
Best places to recharge, Colorado mountains near Cuchara, beach in Galveston, my patio, with coffee and birds before anyone else is up and patio is still cool.
I am lucky enough to have a "pagan" camp near me that I go to almost every weekend. It's far enough in the Kansas "country" that cell phones really don't work there. So there is no point to me carrying mine around with me. So I can walk the 100+ acres and enjoy the different areas and breath. It is my sanctuary. I do miss the ocean though, there is something about standing on the shore and not seeing anything but the water and sky meeting on the horizon. The vastness of it. And I love a good rainstorm, one that I can go out in and run naked in (at camp). Or to fall asleep to the sound of rain on my tent or in the cabin there.
For me the best place to recharge is my garden. I have a private area that has a small tree overhanging it and a zen type rock garden. The tree has three sets of wind chimes and there is a bench underneath. My special place is shaded and filled with fairy glass and goddess energy.
I think the best place to recharge is at home with quiet and peace:)
Rebecca
The best place that I used to have was the front steps of my freshman/sophomore dorm building. The dorm itself was situated on a hill so I could just see the mountains in the distance. In the afternoons, after supper, it was the best time to sit on the concrete steps and just look out over the campus. Especially during the fall, I spent several afternoons on those steps, just being.
Maybe this sounds odd, but mine is on my drive home from work. I get off at 7 am and it's quiet and peaceful and the drive is all trees and nature. There is also a large nature spirit of some sort along the road that I love to talk to. I hope to have a deck again soon where I can sit and relax in the dark, which is my favorite happy place, but for now driving as the sun is still fresh and newly minted is nice too.
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