How comfortable are you with silence?  Some people can’t bear the thought of it.  TV and/or radio on as quickly as possible.  Leaving them on whilst being at home or in the car.

Nothing wrong and no judgement from me.

Just the observation that there is great power in silence.  In stillness around you.

Being able to be quiet and comfortable in the silence that might surround you.

It doesn’t mean you’re antisocial or needy in any way.  It’s just a difference.

I love silence.  Stillness.  Peace AND as juxtaposition I also love loud music and boisterous conversation BUT I know myself well enough to know I am much more a small, intimate dinner/one-to-one kind of conversationalist than a social butterfly at a cocktail party!  I can do it, it’s just not my preference.

We’ve just waved goodbye to our family who stayed with us for a fortnight over Easter. It was just lovely.  Daily it was eat, sleep, chat, repeat etc!  

It now feels very quiet here and the hounds, Snowy and I are adjusting to that.

Typing to you as I am in silence it’s a state I’m used to having worked from home for nearly 20 years.  I often make my own noise by putting on music, hosting or making calls and then, easy silence again.

I think it’s a compliment to another person if you have an easy time together in silence.

Certainly I’ve had the experience of a very uneasy silence with someone in the past and very pleased I am they are no longer in my present.

So maybe consider your relationship with silence…

• are you comfortable? 
• do you need noise around you?
• what does silence mean to you?
• who are you particularly comfortable with in silence?
• who aren’t you?

It’s an interesting thought and one to balance.

Susan Cain in her book Quiet writes eloquently and openly about her need for silence “in a world which can’t stop talking“.  I understand her thoughts…

Or in someone else’s words…

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Any time people come together in a meeting, we’re not necessarily getting the best ideas; we’re just getting the ideas of the best talkers.  ~ Susan Cain

  And in other news…

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One of my best nights in 2024 was seeing live Foo Fighters in London.  It was neither quiet nor reflective time but it was fabulous! 🤗