“Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn?
Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends?
Or perhaps you know the silence when you haven’t the answer to a question you’ve been asked,
or the hush of a country road at night,
or the expectant pause of a room full of people when someone is just about to speak,
or, most beautiful of all,
the moment after the door closes and you’re alone in the whole house?
Each one is different, you know, and all very beautiful if you listen carefully.”
Norton Juster
Sometimes the world seems a very noisy place. There are so many causes, opinions, and philosophies clamoring for our attention and response. And sometimes I need to pull away for awhile to get my equilibrium back.
I love those treasured quiet moments where all the voices are quieted, including my own, and I can just rest. I create them whenever I can.
In the car while waiting for Bear to run an errand. Such times are wonderful for rolling the windows down, closing my eyes and soaking up sunshine and deliciously cooling breezes.
On the farm right after Bear has dashed off to work with his bag full of papers, lunch, and the detritus of a school teacher’s responsibilities. This is my time to take a deep breath and luxuriate in absolute peace before the farmyard erupts in bleats, cackles, hoots, and quacks as everyone demands a good feed.
During this time I like to do something special just for me. Sometimes it’s reading a few pages from my book or making raw cocoa dandelion mocha. Earlier this week I made fresh-squeezed juice with white nectarines and apples and headed out to my kitchen garden for a sit in the early morning sunshine.
The sun felt so good and I loved just sitting, admiring the flowering thyme and cheery nasturtiums, spotting the first strawberries of the season, not worrying one iota about weeding or watering or getting seedlings transplanted to the big garden.
Soon enough the work of real life beckons and I’m busy writing an article or setting up a photo shoot or trekking through the fields with the goats. But even in those times of busyness, even a few quiet seconds observing a fluffy dandelion head sparkling among the grasses can make a huge difference.
It does me no end of good to take these little moments to restore, refresh, to remind myself that even when life gets crazy and hard and scary and sad, there is beauty and goodness just waiting to nourish a weary soul.
What do you like to do in your quiet moments? XO
Oh. Yes. Just all of this. I love it and I am working at creating more of those quiet, soul-nourishing moments. XO
I’m so glad, dear @breannemosher:disqus 🙂 I figure we can get through anything if only we can grab a few quiet moments in the midst of it all. XO
I have a favourite beach that I like to go in the summer. The only disturbance from burying myself in a book are the female Merganser ducks that swim by with their brood. If stay long enough they will pass by again on their way back up the lake.
Isn’t it amazing how close animals will come when they know they are safe near you, @d58b26e263bfdbd99d844b965c5cbbfb:disqus ? I’m so glad you have such a beautiful spot to go to. 🙂
love that dandelion shot! ooooohhhh yes those v. necessary moments of being. just being still. i also love the idea of your nectarine/apple cocktail. hope you get many such moments this week.
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Thank you so much, @9d73767d10227efff04c7307e331304c:disqus 🙂 Today I had a lovely pomegranate hard cider and a walk in the rain. Both were lovely. 🙂 XO
Good for you Krista for taking the time to create quiet moments for yourself 🙂
It makes such a big difference for me, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂
The quiet moments are my favorites as well. The early mornings are my especial favorite.
Early mornings are my favorite time too, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus Especially when I have time to really enjoy them. 🙂
What a lovely poem Krista! I relish my quiet moments as well… I find such peace taking long walks alone or with the hubs in tow… nothing like appreciating the beauty of nature around you! And you have so much beauty in Oz 🙂 🙂
Long walks are exquisite, @TuulaR:disqus 🙂 I’m so glad your hubs likes taking them with you too. I love walking with my Bear. 🙂
I love these photos, Krista! They are providing a quiet moment for me after a day in an inner-city London school and the behavioural problems that come with being somewhere like that! Hampstead Heath is currently my place of choice for moments of solace and quiet.
Oh wow, @katyabroad:disqus , such good but hard work you’re doing. XO I’ve only ever read of Hampstead Heath, but just hearing them name makes me smile. 🙂
I don’t have anywhere near enough quiet moments. I must learn this.
It is a difficult thing to learn and practice, isn’t it, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂
A walk on the beach is something I find very peaceful, even if not completely quiet. I just love the photograph with the seed heads.
A walk on the beach is one of my very favorite restorative things too, @LindyLouMac:disqus
I like to sit and watch the ocean,, with a coffee if it’s morning or a win if it is sunset. Gorgeous story and images.
Both of those options sound exquisite, @GourmetGetaway:disqus 🙂
Read. Sit by a beach in the shade and read. Then go to bed. And read. Did I mention I like to read?
I’m getting the impression you like to read, @shirleyfromrhubarbwhine:disqus 🙂 Me too!!!
You’re so right Krista. There is too much noise in this world and I find it overwhelming sometimes. I do love sitting in quiet with just a cup of tea. That’s what I like to do in quiet moments. I also like those moments at home when my husband and I are immersed in something we each enjoy and we don’t say a word to one another for a while. Just being in the silence, together, always feels comforting and relaxing to me 🙂
I love that you treasure such moments with your hubby, @119c2cee80d4ff8a6f3916096ddfc8dd:disqus 🙂 I’m the same way. Comfy quiet with my Bear is pure bliss. 🙂
Oh how I love quiet moments….. and longer moments too! A beautiful post again Krista, you are a woman after my own heart!
Thank you so much, @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 I am honored to be counted a kindred spirit. xo
The world is indeed a noisy place. I need quiet moments to think – I often solve problems after I’ve been at the gym, occupying my body and setting my mind free – and no phone to interrupt! 😉