Green & Clean

There are shockingly few places in the United States where you can escape  mechanical devices, where you can be in a ’silent’ place–though perhaps naturally quiet is a better description.

It’s great for you mind, body, and spirit to slow down, quiet down, and think about conservation. Something which I hold dear to my heart and I encourage everyone to do.

But if you live in a city like i do, you’re unlikely to find five seconds of natural quiet, let alone the five minutes which is the current US average for the longest period without mechanical punctuation.  Though experiencing the natural quiet of wilderness, or even semi-wilderness, may be the ideal, you can still reap some mentally green benefits from silence.

Sitting Quietly Is About Awareness More Than Hearing
After all, when you are sitting quietly in nature part of what you are doing is listening to what is happening around you, but if you are truly quiet and considered about it what you are doing is listening to the silence of yourself. You are observing yourself, silencing the inner monologue and just being. In cultivating this sort of awareness you can really be any place.

Do it now. Close your eyes. Just hear what is around you.

In the space around me right now I hear traffic going by outside, horns far away, a cough on the street below, another beep, the gentle hum of my laptop, a truck pulling up, idling at the traffic light, starting again, voices on the street, someone calling out, child’s voices, a dove (one of a pair) that often land on my windowsill to sun themselves, the heat pipes creaking and trilling.

Notice the Space Between Sounds Not the Sounds
Sitting a bit longer begin to notice the spaces between the sounds. You begin withdrawing your association from I am hearing that sound to just hearing it. You begin to hear a faint continuum punctuated by sound, not the other way around.

On some level it may seem more enjoyable to let the sounds of running water, of trees, of grass blowing, of birds, but for cultivating awareness–something which really is one of the greenest things you can do, becoming more aware of your actions and their cascading effects–any place will do.

Do you meditate and/or find time in your day to close your eyes and give yourself a few minutes of peace and quiet??  I have found that it can uplift your spirit and energy level which can make you a better parent, employee, and lower your overall stress levels.  So go ahead and reward yourself with a few minutes of “you” time!!

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