Silence

A recurring theme keeps cropping up at my Teams meeting (couple prayer group). That we don't have enough silence and still-time. And that we all really crave it. People are so far removed from experiencing silence, that they don't recognize their cravings, and often try to fulfill it with more...more noise, more activity, more things. When we went to New York City back in June, the noise was incredible. We went back to our hotel room mid-day to recoup, not just because of the heat, but we needed some time of silence. I read about homes with the TV on for 8, 9 hours a day. The TV is on in my house too much, but it's usually 1-2 hours in the afternoon (Oprah, Dr. Phil, news, or a Disney show the Imp is watching), then it's off through dinner time and is often on from 8-11...sometimes later, especially with overtime baseball games (the Rays won in the 14th inning the other night) and late football games (USF beat Kansas last night!) I've found myself turning the TV off more and more, even during those times. It's too much. We taken the Imp's i-pod away at night when we discovered she was essentially sleeping with it on. I just don't understand that one. But we told her....you need some quite time. How can you hear God or even yourself if you never stop the noise. Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.

I spent yesterday scrap booking with a friend (9-3). It was wonderful on many accounts...I love working with the pictures and remembering the events from the photos, and I love creating 'pretty' pages. I love the creative process. And I love the social aspect of doing it with someone else and gabbing all day. When I got home, I called my mom while Hubby drove us to get the Imp after swim. We took the Imp and some friends out for a quick bite before depositing them back at school for the football game. We got back home around 8pm. I just wanted quiet. To be with people all day...I just needed a little time of quiet. Our pool outback is wonderful for that.

As I read Cindy's blog, I'm often find myself agreeing with her emphatically. Her minimalists views have me thinking how to stream-line my own life/house. I don't think I'll ever live off the grid, but I definitely aspouse to live modestly. I think that minimalist mentality transcends my life to include more than material things. It includes picking and choosing carefully that which I say 'yes' to. As a stay at home mom, I'm often asked to 'chip in and help out' and I have no problem with that, but I don't need to be on 8 committees or to have a slew of things to do for others. Our society tends to place great importance on a filled palm pilot/blackberry. There is nothing wrong with having nothing planned. That's when you have time to stretch your spirit and intellect...to read that article, or write that letter, or contemplate the universe.

I am not an elequent writer and feel I've not captured everythig I wanted to say...but it's a start.

Along the lines of simplicity, etc. the people collecting money at intersections is really starting to drive me crazy (pun intended). It seems at every big intersection in my part of town, there are people with buckets that walk among the cars stopped at the red lights, asking for donations. Can I not even drive in peace? This has been going on a while (as in years). People use to stay on the medians, try to make eye contact with drivers and if someone rolled down their window, then the collectors would approach a car. Not any more...they'll knock on your window!! Look....trust me I saw you there with your bucket and if I wanted to give I figured out I just needed to call you over. Looking straight ahead and leaving my window up is a sign....leave me alone. I give to people and organizations I have investigated, trust and believe in. I know there are many worthy causes out there. I can't give to all of them. These 'street collectors' are worse than telemarketers. I use to say hello to them...wishing them well, etc. But they have become so agressive I give them no encouragement at all. I use to think my smile and greeting would make their time in the hot sun more enjoyable and that having them know that even people who didn't give money, might support their endeavors in spirit. Not any more. Any encouragement from me only doubles their efforts to have me part with my money. Ugh. I actually plan to avoid some intersections the people have become so aggressive. The line I use with telemarketers leaves most of them speechless. I tell them I lost my brother to ALS and support that organization and don't have anything more to share with theirs.