Where Does Silence Live?

Wouldn’t it be great to show up at the address of Silence? We knock. Welcomed in, we could put our feet up by the fire, sip on a cup of tea and hear nothing but calming and reassuring sounds - the crackling of the fire, our sighs of comfort and no voices.

This year has stung. There’s been chaos and stress that has touched each and every one of us and the wounds still hurt...some may never heal. I’ve been so tired. My energy zapped by noise and loss and despair, I seek silence. Not an escape or avoidance, just a healthy reprieve from the assault of information, news and opinions that hit my ears and then my brain.....SILENCE!

Without answers and my head pounding, I pick up a skein of yarn and my crochet hook. There’s no plan. I just start manipulating the yarn. Chain 30...(Why 30? I don’t know. Looks good.)...Ok, 32...(Don’t think of the outcome. Let it happen.)...Single crochet, double....(Hmm, do I still know how to do a tulip stitch?)...Attempt tulip stitch...(OK, I’ll have to keep working on that.)...Switch to the blanket stitch....(Aah, this feels nice.)....and on and on and on. Thoughts hopscotch from stitches to the texture of the yarn to the overall pattern to...to...to nothing at all. Just the rhythm of the stitches and the movement of my hands.

Craftsmanship and artistry comes in all forms, so it’s no wonder others have experienced this quieting as well. Maybe a part of me recognizes that busy hands quiet the mind. A bigger picture could be that, as we work, the very act of creating connects us to others who have traveled this path, past or present. Our ancestral belonging is a wise comforter. We are all part of it. It’s like a fond childhood memory but more personal than that....more like a conversation with your heart. Sometimes the silence comes from simple concentration. Pure and simple.

I can only speak for myself, so I would love to hear your experiences. Where do you go for silence? What gives you rest and allows you to move once more through each day? Like me, there may be many things that invite internal silence and peace. I’d like to hear yours.

Wherever your busy hands bring you, I hope one of the stops is at the home of Silence. The home where you can breathe deeply, enjoy simplicity, focus on only one thing at a time and gain abundant reserves before you bid adieu until next time.