This little backyard of mine brings me such peace. I love to hear the birds chirping and the breeze rustling through the leaves. The ability to sit in stillness is not something that has come easily for me. It has been a hard fought battle. How many of you struggle to sit in silent stillness? You know what I mean, that moment when all the anxious thoughts of the days/weeks/months come flooding in the moment you get still? It’s the reason we can’t be without tv, music, phones..some sort of stimulus.
Want to know a secret? My house is mostly silent. I turn the tv on when I am watching it and I listen to music when I cook. Otherwise, I usually sit in silence. Why? Because I had to fight to embrace the still, silent moments of my life. Prior to this practice I was overstimulated always and truly unaware of the condition of my soul. I had to learn to quit the noise.
Do not take for granted the ability to sit in stillness. If you can, celebrate that fact.
If you can’t, start small. Go to a place that brings you joy, for me, its always the outdoors. Take a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and just go be. Set a timer if you have to, start with 5 minutes. Listen closely for the noise of the world around you. I am thankful to live in a neighborhood with trees so birds are always chirping around me and that West Texas wind always makes a show for me as well. The fact is, there is always something to listen for, see, do, experience, etc. We just have to be willing to seek it out. Joy, peace, love…they aren’t going to walk through your living room. You have to practice them. I have been called weak before because I respond to ugly people with kindness but I have to tell you, its not the easy way. Truly I would love nothing more than to cuss people out sometimes. It’s a practice. But my peace is more important to me than being heard sometimes. Don’t argue with people that won’t hear you anyway, it only disrupts your peace.
The practice of pursuing peace, joy, kindness, etc will change you. In an overstimulated world, its refreshing to sit and be still. To wait in a line and not immediately get out your phone. Your mental health will be strengthened by this practice and you will learn to validate yourself rather than seeking external validation through social media and other people. Be open to conversations with strangers as you are standing in line. Lift your head up, look around and take in what is around you. Engage in conversation with strangers. Practice waiting without getting your phone out. Say hello to people you walk past. Set down your phone and go outside.
