The Whisper...and a challenge

[Mr. Bloom]

Well, the post Ike power was just restored in Bloomington

But, from lemons...sweet lemonade is made!

After last night's ride, with no power, it was easy to justify going to bed early...by 8:30.

As I often do, I woke up about 3:30 AM. But this time, there was no computer, no TV, no light, no ticking clocks, no traffic noise...nothing....

So, I listened to the silence...and it's amazing what you hear in the whisper of silence

To those of you who are Type A like me, I challenge you to try it.

This is not really mediatation (which usually involves a focus) but a true emtiness that enables you to process truths that the static of modern life keeps you from processing.

[OakLeaf]

you're lucky, you had water and could stay at home. Mine just came back on a couple of hours ago too.

A normal morning for me is like the one you had (except for the 3 a.m. part - my body's actually attuned to sunrise, which isn't that early this time of year. Without water, I'm sleeping in a hotel with an eye mask

[wackyjacky1]

Hmmm...in bed at 8:30 and up at 3:30 is pretty much my daily routine (bakery hours).

(Come to think of it, why am I up and sitting at the computer right now? I blame the margaritas I had earlier...)

[tulip]

I find myself awake just before dawn most mornings. I like to stay in bed and listen. Often I hear a screech owl at that time of day. Then I smile and snuggle further into my covers til I really wake up about an hour later.

[Tuckervill]

There are very few places where you couldn't hear at least the distant hum of the vehicles on a local highway. Even if your power is out, someone else's might be on, and then you'd hear the distant hum of their a/c, fridge or something else. I've tried!

Karen

[GLC1968]

Silence? Ha!

With chickens, goats, bison, dogs, cats, coyotes, various wild birds, ceaseless wind and crickets - silence is non-existent in my neck of the woods, even in the absence of power.

[crazycanuck]

When I leave for swimming at about 455am, it's very very quiet in my 'hood yo.

I can normally only hear a kookabura..

[Mr. Bloom]

When I leave for swimming at about 455am, it's very very quiet in my 'hood yo.

I can normally only hear a kookabura..

I'd have to listen REAL hard to hear a kookabura!

[Kvixen23]

I try to have at least 10 minutes of nothingness every morning. After feeding the animals and readying myself for the day I sit with my coffee near at hand and don't do anything. No tv, music, book, nothing. I just sit and enjoy the quiet. It's very nice.

I recently had to ask my husband not to turn the tv on until after I leave the house in the morning b/c he had several days of the same schedule as me. That usually isn't a problem, our schedules syncing up like that, but after two days of having to listen to the tv before going to work I couldn't take. I work with children from ages 0 - 3 all day. I need a few moments of complete and utter silence each day.

Also, In December 2007 we had a huge ice storm that knocked out power to most of the state (Oklahoma). We were out for 3 days, then had it on for almost 24 hours, then off again for 2 days. Our across the street neighbors were out for 9 consecutive days. It was fun to have to revert back to candles at night and going to bed at sunset, waking with the sun. No one could work so we all hung out and played UNO by gas lamp Listening to the sounds of tree limbs cracking and falling under the weight of the ice was both eery and beautiful.

I love and appreciate the sound of silence!!!

[IFjane]

Krista, I am with you on the "no TV or radio in the morning"....or in the evening.....or any time I can have the windows open and hear the music of nature.

Yes, Karen, if I listen VERY hard I can sometimes hear the trucks on Rt. 29 five miles away, but more often than not the sound of the river below my house is louder - and what a wonderful sound that is, tumbling over the rocks.

Right now I hear crickets and a distant dog barking. Occasionally I hear a coyote or deer snorting in the edge of the woods. Like Tulip, one of my favorite sounds is that of a screech owl in the trees above the house. Monday evening I was talking on the phone to my DH (he is working on the left coast) & I ran out on the deck with the cell phone so he could hear a fox barking in the woods! I love hearing the sounds of outside....

[Tri Girl]

I work with children from ages 0 - 3 all day. I need a few moments of complete and utter silence each day.

I work with 10 year olds and I appreciate the silence, too. But maybe not as much as you...
My silent time is during my commute. 1.5 hours of total silence a day- just the sound of the highway humming beneath me.

Also, In December 2007 we had a huge ice storm that knocked out power to most of the state (Oklahoma). We were out for 3 days, then had it on for almost 24 hours, then off again for 2 days. Our across the street neighbors were out for 9 consecutive days. It was fun to have to revert back to candles at night and going to bed at sunset, waking with the sun. No one could work so we all hung out and played UNO by gas lamp Listening to the sounds of tree limbs cracking and falling under the weight of the ice was both eery and beautiful.

I live in OKC, too. That storm was wicked. We lost power for 5 days, and after 2 nights in the freezing cold (no wood burning fireplace) we went to a friend's house. It was cool to play 1800's with candles, tho, and to hear the cracking of limbs. Not something I'd like to repeat.

[sundial]

So, I listened to the silence...and it's amazing what you hear in the whisper of silence

I love the silence found in a snowfall. There is nothing more peaceful to me.

[Crankin]

Ditto for the silence in a snowfall. I like it when everything stops as normal and it feels like a holiday.
Probably why my cell phone is never on, except for when I have to call someone (rare). Same reason I don't have an I Phone, Blackberry, or Skype with relatives I really don't want to talk to or see. Obviously, I do use the Internet, but compared to most people, not excessively. Don't do video games either. I'm not against them, it's just too overstimulating. In fact, I rarely watch a movie or listen to music. I only use my I Pod at the gym, never when I'm outside. Oddly, I do watch the news every day. I am too much of a political junkie to turn the TV off. And, I read at least one newspaper and several magazines a week.
Last week my brother in law told me to get into the 21st century. I laughed at him. I do have a lot of these electronic things in my house, but I feel like we have forgotten how to hear what is really going on in the world. I live in a "woodsy" suburb, to some it would be rural. But, the highway is only 3/4 of a mile away. I find that after having to go into the city for class twice a week, I cannot wait to get home. I never thought I would say this, but all of the people rushing everywhere gets to me. I mean, I love the cultural aspects of the city and I couldn't live in the sticks, but I have become more of a country person who likes to be outside with nature. I guess I can thank cycling for that, because about two years before I started riding, we were ready to sell our house and move to the city.

[lph]

Funny - I find I'm equally addicted to quiet, when I need it, and music, when I need that. I have a large office to myself and am used to working in quiet surroundings, and I'll frequently close the door completely so I can concentrate. I love being home alone and enjoying the almost total silence we can get here in the evenings. I get quite antsy quite fast if my son has friends over and they get a bit loud, and I have a very low tolerance for the sound of a baby crying or small kids whining or throwing tantrums.

But I love passionately listening to music when I exercise, I've always loved dancing, aerobics, the more energetic the music the better, and I love riding with music. It recharges me and makes me feel stronger and faster and enthusiastic.

I think I'm just quite sensitive to what hits my ears. I'm not very good at filtering it out, and it affects me whether I like it or not. I'm also easily affected by soppy commercials or emotional movies and the like, and will start sniffling at the drop of a Save the Children ad

[wackyjacky1]

This morning as I was gearing up to ride to work (about 3:45 a.m.) I heard an owl hooting in a nearby tree. It was kinda spooky, but reassuring at the same time.