Quiet Day? Ummmm…

Posted on by traciesulpazo

Wednesdays are for Whatever

Image
Pinterest Pic

Did you know that today is National Quiet Day? That’s right, a day to unplug, relax, escape all the modern noise and appreciate the sound of silence…

Dear Lord, what fresh hell is this????

Ok, maybe, just maybe this extrovert is being a tad dramatic. I mean, I like it a little quiet now and again. I can carve out some time every so often to not speak to people. I can refrain from not putting on the television. I can resist the lure of the social media scroll. I can press pause on my playlist.

They say that the benefits of a quiet day are a reduction of stress and health risks, increases mindfulness and improves mental health. I guess this makes sense. I am no expert like “they” are, but I can see what they are talking about.

And the suggestions they give for practicing “quiet day” are things I like to do. Going on a nice nature walk, journaling, doing some yoga, reading and of course meditation. Well…I personally have a problem with meditation.

Not the act of it or the idea of it. I know it is a good thing that helps a lot of people. I wish I could get into it more. But I think my brain might be a little bit bent. Like the off button is damaged. Because my mind goes 24/7.

It is a never-ending mashup of old conversations, things I have read, movie lines, things I would like or need to do and of course random songs. It’s like when you spill something on your keyboard and it goes all crazy like. That’s me.

There is a scene in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” where Julia Robert’s character wrestled with mediation. Her mind kept going to how to decorate her meditation room instead of doing what it was supposed to be doing which was being quiet.

Can anyone else relate?

When I am lying in bed at night and try to pray, I find my brain getting off track all the time. And I am not talking about long winded prayers or a set of written prayers. I am talking about speaking to God like I am talking to you. The next thing you know I am thinking about something that happened on a youth group ski trip a million years ago or that actor I have been trying to remember from some movie will finally pop into my head.

I don’t worry about that too much though because let’s face it, God made me chatty with a brain that refuses to rest. He must like my never-ending running dialog of randomness that runs through my brain.

So today I will respect anyone who wants to celebrate Quiet Day by not interrupting their peace, but I will not worry about trying to quiet the inner workings of my own mind. I’ll just pour another cup of coffee and let the thoughts just flow.

I will play Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Sound of Silence” in solidarity though.

(p.s. this is a funny piece, I really don’t need suggestions about how to quiet my mind. And no, I do not have ADHD or anything else. Thanks though.)

***Question for the comments: Is it easy for you to quiet your mind or does it zip all over like a pinball machine like mine?

***Daily Blog

***Subscribe to never miss a post. Drop by the comments and be part of the conversation. Digging the content? Stop by Busking for Blog Posts and consider making a donation to the blog. Tell a friend about The Squiggle Line Cafe. Thanks for being here. See you tomorrow.

Unknown's avatar

Author:

Hi, I'm Tracie. I am a writer, reader, lover of the city and the beach. I am a big fan of all things caffeinated. I dig things from many different decades, but am a definite child of the 80's. My blog is about everything and anything my mind conjures up. Enjoy the ride.

79 thoughts on “Quiet Day? Ummmm…”

  1. Hey, I’m like you. Not ADHD but just brain loud. Its like a constant stream of conversation and to do lists. Quiet is just an opportunity to come up with a list of what needs done next (looking at you eat pray love). Totally get what your talking about here. Xx

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

  3. My brain NEVER turns off. NEVER. However, when I meditate, I can count my breaths. When my mind wanders (as it inevitably does), I immediately go back to “in, out”. It takes me a while to get back into it if I haven’t for a while.

    I need my headphones or tv in at night so my brain has stuff to occupy it. It can’t be anything I want to watch or hear. If it’s the TV, it’s Ina or Ocean’s 13 where I’m usually asleep before they get to Ruben’s hospital bed. And if it’s headphones, it’s an audiobook with a really boring, monotone narrator. A really good narrator will keep me up all night, like a good book.

    BTW, I lol’ed throughout the whole thing.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  4. Bing.Bong.Bing. That’s my brain popping around from thought to thought. I have a meditation app that I use religiously but I choose pieces that are 4 minutes or under because that’s all my brain can handle. Lol

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  5. Ok that’s hilarious! Your line about what fresh hell this is. But also, I am exactly the same way with my prayers at night! Mine are a conversation too and my mind definitely wanders off track and I find myself repeating what I just “said”. I still eventually get my point across, lol!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  7. I haven’t listened to the “Sound of Silence” in years–used to love it. Anyhow, I try meditating from time to time and usually fail at it too, with my thoughts bouncing all over the place or with me just nodding off. 💤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  10. Hi Tracie
    We have never heard about such a day. Where do you find such information?
    We live most of the day quietly, everyone writing or reading in their rooms. Except for a little blogging, we don’t use social media. We only have a little chat with our editor or agent. In the evening, we four come together for a meal and talk or watch the news or a film. Regularly, we give a dinner party or go to one. But that’s all, and we like it.
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  11. I failed at quiet day before I even woke up. My stomach was growling so loud my wife rolled over and smacked my shoulder; that was not quiet either but, at least I wasn’t snoring.. I don’t think (I never hear it so it’s rumor and conjecture as far as I’m concerned). Anyway.. where was I? Oh, so now I’m up, drinking coffee. The cats meowing for breakfast.. that’s right, I’m hungry which is what got me up in the first place, well, the smackdown did. But I can’t decide what I want for breakfast: bagel, cereal, eggs? I don’t know, nothing sounds good yet everything sounds good and now I’m irritated and lost my appetite.

    Loved your post. Sometimes the noise in our heads is deafening. I can certainly relate to the “The Sound of Silence” 👍

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. It’s not that I failed at quiet day, I didn’t even put myself on the running lol. I think you should get a pass for the stomach. It only breaks the quiet if you hear it right? Like you said. Thanks for reading. My blog normally has a bunch of crazy thoughts like that on the regular.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  16. “Julia Robert’s mind keep going to thoughts of decorating the room instead of meditation”.
    Never have I ever related to something so much.
    But the whole concept of “Quiet Day” – as much as i think it would be great if every together actually went along with it, it also saddens me to think this is something we absolutely need now. The act of just being present and mindfulness are rare gems now. I am in introvert, and i enjoy my time alone – but that time itself is lost in the whirl on the online world.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  23. This is warm and beautiful. My interpretation? Your Quiet Day is your communion as you pray (interruptions, wanderings or whatever). Such an analogy common for an ‘extrovert’. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  24. I’m sure it’s also related to me,,bcz
    Whenever i want silence there is something or other that stuck into my mind nd I’m distract towards that nd then I’m start thinking about it 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  25. I never heard of quiet day and as an introvert love this. I love the way you let me into your headspace. I have a good friend who is extroverted and we love each other for who we are. Thanks for being you.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

  27. Love the site! I blog about the New York Mets, mets-madness.com feel free to check out my blog, this link is the correct one if you scroll all the way down on my blog you can subscribe, can you please follow mine too? Let’s help each other grow! -Mikayla Scotlynd Littrell, MetsMadness.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  30. Definitely not easy for me either. My brain is always bouncing around with different thoughts and ideas, especially at night. Glad to know I’m not the only one with a mind like a pinball machine!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment