Addicted to sunshine? Maybe. I told myself I'd spend thirty minutes outside--no more. An hour and a half later, I dragged my feet indoors. What is it about the warm sun that melts my muscles and lulls my brain? Usually, I enjoy reading out in the sun, but on Friday, I couldn't even pay attention. It was enough to just sit and be and soak up summer.
I'm sure you've all heard the expression "filling the creative well." Activities conducive to re-energizing our creativity include reading, absorbing art, listening to music, even going to a movie. But what about silence? What about an hour of nothing?
How often do you have an hour to just sit and be?
Can you make that happen this week? I know how hard it is. We have so many things clamoring for our attention. But please try. Try to just sit for an hour and not do anything. It's good for the soul.
This one is easy. I do it everyday since I'm home alone and I LOVE to sit in the silence and just think:)
ReplyDeleteThat's why I like being up early. Have a quiet cup of tea in the sun room while listening to the news and weather. TG for teens who sleep in!
ReplyDeleteAn hour of silence? Um, probably not. LOL! Even when the kiddos are asleep, the husband is awake. *grin*
ReplyDeleteBut I do get my moments, like now, when the kids are playing and I get to play too, in blogland. :-)
I resisted reading this. It's very difficult for me to just sit. VERY. But I have a vacation coming up. Maybe I'll stare out on the lake.
ReplyDeleteReading seriously doesn't count? ;)
~ Wendy
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteTerri: It's magical, isn't it?
CJ: Cup of tea in the sunroom? Those words make me smile. Delightful!
Jessica: Ha! I hear you!
Wendy: It's terrible for me too. I always feel like I need to do one more thing. I was surprised at how much I resisted winding down--until I actually did it. Then I wanted to stay in that mode forever!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Does walking count? I love a quiet, contemplative walk ...
ReplyDeleteTo sit and do nothing is hard! Even walking I have to have my Ipod. Maybe I'm fearful of what will come up for me if I'm completely in silence. I'll try though!
ReplyDeleteI love sitting outside on our back patio. Usually, my little boy is playing in the yard, but it's still a restful time compared to the rest of our crazy day!
ReplyDeleteI get those times during the school year...but seldom, if ever, in the summer.
ReplyDeletedrat. I miss them.
It is hard, but the sun and sounds of summer are so therapeutic! And when you enjoy those in silence, without conversation from others, I do think creative juices flow nicely. It is incredibly HARD to just be. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteThose of us who live in the great (quite often) white north need to soak up the sun as often as possible!
ReplyDeleteNow if only it would stop raining here!
Does thinking count? That's my problem. My mind is working even when my body isn't. But ahhhh, sounds so nice.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Walks always get my creative juices flowing!
ReplyDeleteLynn: Silence can be intimidating, especially when we know we need it.
Julie J: Sounds lovely! I love watching children play.
Tess: I'm with you. The silences are few and far between in the summer at my house!
Heather: For me, it's just hard to not do one more thing. I look around and see chores. But I can never truly catch up. I finish one thing and there are three more shouting at me!
Erica: Oh yeah! If it's raining by you, I know it'll be raining here tomorrow. Drat!
Janet: I can rarely shut my brain off either!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sometimes I will lay in bed on a weekend and just sit and think. No t.v. on, no music, no computer. But I admit, those times are few and far in between.
ReplyDeleteI love to sit and relax - but sitting in complete silence and doing nothing - like not reading or writing - is hard for me.
An hour to myself, that happens at night before I go to bed! I always read for a bit and then listen to music....only way to unwind after a long day!
ReplyDeleteHannah
This is such a challenge for me. I rarely stop to just sit--and even if I do, that time is full of thoughts and I eventually end up jumping back up to get something done.
ReplyDeleteWalking. I could do that. It's not sitting but at least it makes me take a break from that go, go, go mentality and focus on something nice. Like nature.
Melissa: I always feel much better after I do that. I'm glad you find time to relax!
ReplyDeleteHannah: You've got a great bedtime routine--smart!
Cindy: Yep. That's me too. Go, go, go. But lately I want to say no, no, no!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
In the summer I actually do that at least once a week, and it is on my patio, in the sun :). In the winter, it is harder since I am stuck in the house.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the reasons I don't really listen to music. Silence is the sweetest sound for a mom with little kids. I will definitely take you up on your challenge. I could use some meditation time.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds exquisite. Absolutely devine. I shall try it this week.
ReplyDeleteAmy: There's something about soaking up that Vitamin D!
ReplyDeleteNatalie: Oh yeah! Silence--a beautiful thing!
Katie: I shall try it again this week too. :)
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Thanks for the reminder. I do take walks, and go for runs alone. But I haven't just sat for a long time. I used to do some sitting meditation but that has slipped out of my life.
ReplyDeleteI need to do this. Thanks for challenging me!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen
It is good for the soul! Especially in the long-awaited months of summer.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem is, I usually end up falling asleep! LOL.
Have a great week, Jill! :o)
Paul: I let things slip too and then wonder why? But walking and running outdoors work wonders too.
ReplyDeleteKaren L: I need to more often!
Jackee: So do I! Many days I don't realize how tired I am until my head hits the pillow. Sitting and doing nothing is like an open invitation to snooze!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I love having the time to sit for an hour or so and just think or do nothing. I long for a day when I can do that. Soon I hope.
ReplyDeleteQuiet?!? What is that? lol :) I don't get that quiet time nearly enough. Yesterday I went to Target and walked around by myself just to have some "quiet time." I wish I could sit in my favorite ocean view spot and soak up the inspiration for a few hours.
ReplyDeleteNancy: I hope you can soon!
ReplyDeleteCMOM: I know! What is that? :) Your vision sounds great to me!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jill--I think this is a hard one! I can sit still and read or write. But to do nohing that's hard. Even when we are swimming (hanging out in the water) at the lake we are tossing a ball or doing improv...(My teenage daughter and I are always doing SNL skits). I have trouble sitting still watching TV...I have my computer on my lap most evenings while we watch tv...I read blogs and type. I'll try, but I'm not sure if I can do it.
ReplyDeleteSilence is so powerful as well, so much that I think we underestimate it. After all, it is then that we are able to hear the still small voice. Good blog post!
ReplyDelete