Kagge’s essays reveal why silence is essential to our sanity & happiness – and how it can open doors to wonder & gratitude. 
This photo of E. K. reflects the grit & intensity of character required to complete the “Three Poles Challenge”.
excerpt from: ‘Silence In the Age of Noise’ by Erling Kagge
translated by Becky L. Cook
6.
“Silence can be boring. Everyone has experienced the ways in which silence can come across as exclusive, uncomfortable and at times even scary. At other times, it is a sign of loneliness. Or sorrow. The silence that follows is heavy.
However, silence can also be a friend. A comfort and a source of deeper riches.
Shutting out the world is not about turning your back on your surroundings, but rather the opposite: it is seeing the world a bit more clearly, staying a course and trying to love your life.
Silence in itself is rich. It is exclusive and luxurious. A key to unlock new ways of thinking. I don’t regard it as a renunciation or something spiritual, but rather a practical resource for living a richer life. Or, to put it in more ordinary terms, as a deeper form of experiencing life than just turning on the TV to watch the news, again. “
Lots of food for thought in this post. I recently read The Surrender Experiment and I’ve been thinking a lot about silence and meditation lately. I’ve been learning to embrace silence.
Tierney: I know we’ve touched on this subject indirectly! These past few years and continuing times of incessant ‘drama’ that affects whole populations and individuals such as ourselves due to the whims of those in power has taken its toll on myself unknowingly. My current ‘mindfulness’ state is one of centering and being aware, but not dragged into the drama…Make sense?
Drama depletes creativity & focus for living…I am finally disentangling myself from that as best as is possible. “The Lord is gracious & righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Psalm 116:5.
peace
Very awesome Laura, and you are very awesome 🙂
Thanks for the kudos, Tierney – we all need such validation at times.
I agree completely with your post. Silence in itself is rich, indeed.
But of course you do, Khaya – you are (my) the October Poet!
Silence. Stillness. Yes.
Not ‘time out’, just time.
I knew you’d get it, Andy. Poets always do.
😎
Amen! We watch the news every evening and then in the morning too. I have to wonder why sometimes. – Marty
Actually, I realized the news thing was more out of habit and had gotten way out of kilter with the rest of my lifestyle during 2020 and all things related to its craziness. Yep, we need to be informed, but not immersed in that deluge of data/talking heads!!!!
Thankfully, I think I’ve found my way out of that maze – for now!
🙂
I love silence! Silence makes me feel relaxed and peaceful. I can ‘take in’ the world.
Amen, sister. Almost any silence is more enriching than turning on the TV to watch the news.
Heh, heh, sounds like we’re on the same wave length, Zippy.
Yes.
Thanks for sharing, Laura. Silencing our thoughts while sitting in silence is truly peaceful and nourishing.
“nourishing.” I like that, for that it is.
Hi Laura! I get up early every single morning (4:30 am). Every day I marvel at the silence, sometimes just the birdies are chirping. No cars, no noise . . . just silence. It’s a wonderful time to pray and reflect and get yourself ready for the noise to come. I hope you can welcome and embrace the silence for the golden time it is meant to be. {{{Hugs}}} ~smile~ Roseanne
I do that, too, Roseanne. Except now that my kids are grown, my wake up is usually no earlier that 5AM!!!!
🙂
I’m not sure when I last experienced true silence. Maybe on a desert hike, well away from airplane routes.
Interesting point you bring up: airplane routes. It’s become an ubiquitous part of our aural landscape, in most areas.
after viewing the videos of the Uvalde massacre, I need a break for silence to rpeocess.
Yes, indeed. My heart aches for you, Chela.
Silence definitely has two faces. While silence can be deafening, lonely and uncomfortable, it is also a luxury in that it can calm and rejuvenate. Thought provoking post!
Thought provoking comment! Thank you, SS&B.
I was just talking to another blogger about this. I have a friend who purposely chooses places that have no access to Internet when she gets away to write because she wants to block out all the noise.
I get it about your friend…I cannot listen to music as ‘background’ during my own writing times. It’s too much a part of me that I find myself distracted instead of enabled to write.
Laura, A post for our times. <3 Silence is often hard to come by, but quiet times are a valued part of my life. A pox on the nuisance calls and the scammers whose calls intrude!
A post for our times, indeed. Quiet times are to be valued as you say. But then, you’re a poet and understand such things! 🙂
That’s good
Even though I don’t consider myself a true introvert – or – true extrovert…I do find silence recharging once I ease into it without fear. Thank you for commenting, LA, it’s a pleasure to see you, as a real go-getter, relating to this excerpt, too!
The hardest part of lockdown was always having people around and no silence
And… NO SPACE!
😉
You got that right!!
Laura, what a great and timely excerpt. Sometimes I fear the silence, because it causes me to face my emptiness. So I try to fill it with noise. I’m grateful God speaks into the silence. But sometimes He doesn’t speak with words, but with peace and acceptance of silence.
Speaking into the silence…yes. Speaking spirit to Spirit. Acceptance and leaning into the silence and actually seeking it out. Silence as the space in which our relationship with Him grows and strengthens. These aspects are not part of this little book, but as women of faith, they naturally follow as practical applications in the daily-ness of our lives. Thank you, L. Marie for initiating that line of thought.