Sounds start to slip into stillness.
In rural settings, the sounds are likely
to be birds and animals waking up.
In a city, sounds of outside actions begin,
garbage collection, building construction, traffic.
Even in a high rise hotel room, plumbing sounds,
elevator sounds and just steps in the hall.
Sit in a position in which you can relax and be alert,
close your eyes and just wait and listen.
Words in part from
"Don't Just Do Something, Sit There"
~~Sylvia Boorstein~~
When I read these words this early morning
the thought arises that this is something I need to do.
Maybe it will help clear my mind of thoughts
that I do not want to keep circulating.
Sometimes we say too much, not enough and probably better
most of the time to say nothing.
There is so much I have tried to accomplish in this long life
and I have been successful in many ways and in other ways
still not successful.
If it was Spring in the country
I would sit outside and hear the birds, a breeze making the leaves in the trees rustle
and maybe a distant tractor.
Since it is cold outside
and I am inside
I will hear my clocks ticking, refrigerator sounds, maybe heat unit coming on this early morning
and my anxious heart beating.....
I remember something I read
"to hope is to put yourself in the vulnerable space
and every single day I need to figure out something
I no longer agree to do
and remember
to be human is to fail over and over again."
A smile comes with pictures from over the ocean from a special granddaughter.
She calls this street food - oh my
17 comments:
It must be fun to relive a young life as an adventurer through their eyes while you are safe and sound in your house listening to the heater kick on.
I spend a lot of time alone; this past Fri. and Sat., for example, when the farmer went to a bull sale. All was quiet so I tried to stay busy and talked to myself :)
Your granddaughter is having a wonderful, delicious and interesting adventure and how wonderful of her to share....
As I read your post about listening, I was immediately brought back to being asked by my beloved grandmother to be still when I was a child. What wise advise, and I love being still to this day. There is just nothing I "have" to do other than remain still and listen, as I will find such peace in that state.
Thanks for this!!
Early morning -the best time of day :-). I too have begun to do short meditations and look forward to continuing.
I have always embraced silence. Somehow I need quietness in my life.
I loved this post! I love the pictures from across the big water! It is enlightening to see faraway places!
Street Food! I think it is big in many cultures, more so than ours, we moved it in side....MacDonalds, Burger King........
I know your son and granddaughter are having so much fun!
Tabor, :)
Charlotte, Marcia, Pienosole,
Judi and Sandra,
thank you for taking the time to
read my sharing...
Yes--I love the silence and then in a few minutes, really hearing the small sounds of the house and the birds outside, or the wind blowing. Nice.
I find listening is a good way to calm myself.
I love the sound of the ocean but I have to deliberately listen to it as it tends to fade to the backdrop of my life.
And the birds. And the trees rustling and my dog padding about on her secret errands.
XO
WWW
WWW and Judy, as always
keep visiting
You are both special...
I like your title: Deep Listening. It is something most of need to learn. Thank you, as always, for sharing your thoughts.
Mina the cat has taught me to listen. She hears everything. Sometimes I see her perk up, listening and I have to quiet my mind to learn what she is hearing. And I also have realized that she is very smart about anything I say to her. Smarter than i am when she speaks..Sure wish I had a clue what she is trying to say when her bowl is already full, her water is fresh and she still decides to do a monologue in cat language.
LR, like you, when Callie constantly follows me wagging her tail I always wonder what is she trying to tell me. She talks with her tail and her water and food bowl are full and when I open the door she does not want to go outside - so I wonder..
Aisling, thank you..
Some years back I wrote a blog post titled, 'Don't Just Do Something, Stand Still'. Too many people make too many bad decisions to stay busy, busy, busy. It's perfectly okay to say no, to do nothing, to putter or sit on a rock in the pasture and listen to God. I've been a lot of years in solitude and semi-solitude and love it.
I so appreciate these comments. I am not a morning person, so any meditating I do is usually at night. Now that I have moved to a more rural area I am thrilled to have my windows open and love hearing the quiet and the occasional hooting of the owls or rustling of some other night animals. I am picturing you in your beautiful cottage in the morning, being still and listening.
And I really love the amazing color in the images you posted from your traveling loved one.
I have gotten used to the quiet of the country, too. When I am at my daughter's house, which used to be my house, I am surprised by the noise of neighbors, dogs, traffic, which are all the normal sounds of the city. I've decided I am a person who does little meditations throughout the day, stopping to think of someone or to be grateful or to just be quiet....
""to hope is to put yourself in the vulnerable space
and every single day I need to figure out something
I no longer agree to do
and remember
to be human is to fail over and over again."" This is so beautiful… I like to sit in the mornings too, often taking in the sounds from outdoors and the sounds of my family in other rooms… the sound of my breath flowing in and out… this is such a healing practice.
Much love to you my friend!
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