When did you last experience the sweet territory of silence?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Much Quiet Do You Get In Your Day? Seriously I want to set you a challenge right now. For the next twenty-four hours record how many minutes of quiet you get to engage and be with in one through the course of one whole day? I guess most people would not get past 15 minutes of quiet or silence in any given day. Why is that? What keeps us away from silence? What are we afraid of? What will we find in the silence? Cultural anthropologist and educator Angeles Arrien writes, “Where did you grow uncomfortable with the sweet territory of silence?”

I pose you the same question. When was the last time you experienced silence or quiet, which you consciously savoured or enjoyed? Perhaps this is why the other day I sat in a state of bliss and flow, writing and creating in the Georgian Café in Clapham South. I suddenly looked up and realized that one of the reasons for my comfort and flow was the absence of loud music playing in the background. The only sounds came from the orders being placed by walk in customers and the faint hum of conversations from the people eating breakfast and the jangle of china teacups and wares as the staff went to and fro. I felt at home amongst the quiet. I could hear myself think. It was great to allow my thoughts to free associate without having to battle against the loud music you’ll often find blasting out in café’s and restaurants.

I think I am going to write to Siobhan Wall author of Quiet London and suggest that she adds the café to her compilation of quiet cafes and eating places in London in a new edition. Quiet London is a guide to interesting, attractive and quiet places to meet, drink, eat, swim, rest, shop, sleep or read. It includes short descriptions, travel and contact details and simple but atmospheric photographs

http://quietplacestosit.blogspot.co.uk/

You might also like to check out the book Quiet by Susan Cain. You’ll learn a lot backed up by research about what introverts bring to the table and what value quiet brings to our lives both personal and at work. I devoured the book on a flight from Boston to UK. It’s a hefty book but well worth staying with.

www.thepowerofintroverts.com

Watch Susan’s TED talk The Power Of Introverts: http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html