Re-Treat
quiet
Stillness
The first three items in my inbox this morning were about stillness. I take that as a sign. Clearly, I subscribe to matter that resonates with me, so it’s not too coincidental, but I have been feeling this urgent need to be calm despite the pandemic.
Real stillness is not (just) physical repose, but more importantly, mental quiet.
It’s only when one is quiet can one ignore offensive people, create art, be productive and be helpful for those in need.
Hello, and what do you do?
“When you completely identify with your role (mother…doctor…), then something vital is missing. If you play a role at work, you always have a secondary motive because the ego is at work. You’re not totally focused on the task at hand because there is some self-interest there. You want to protect yourself. You want to get credit for yourself…or use the people around you.”
Eckhart Tolle
The Duke’s Wise Words
“Talk low, talk slow and don’t talk too much.”
John Wayne
There is no Substitute for Hard Work (Thomas Edison)
The 13 Daily Habits (#6)*
Find True Quiet
Disconnect.
Unplug.
Be unreachable.
Find calmness and peace.
Build this into your daily schedule.
Ryan Holiday likes to swim. (What a great way to combine Habits #6 and #7 (strenuous exercise))! I love to go running in the desert. Or go to a coffee shop and write. How do you like to create quiet for yourself?
*From Ryan Holiday’s Thought Catalog blog
Santuary
Everyone ought to have a quiet place to walk.
Move your body and quiet your mind – this is the opposite of what most of us do most of the time.
Which is healthier? A busy mind and lethargic body or a quiet mind and a moving body? An overactive mind thinking negative thoughts is the root of our stress and addictions.
Digression
Q is for Quiet*
If I could say anything to my students, I’d say:
“Hi, my name is Mrs. Wyatt and I like it very quiet.”
But alas, my last name is Wipff
(origin: Alsace-Lorraine) Yes, Swiss
I chose this name! I married it.
My surname is Chung but not Chinese, Korean
It is pronounced “Jung” – not “yung” like Carl (who was Swiss, by the way)
What’s that you say?
Oh yes, I love the Quiet
*Part of my alphabiography series
Discipline + Solitude
It’s a busy world. Now, more than ever, we have “noise”: news, videos, people in cafes talking, television, the Internet, etc.
I’m a teacher and my work is noisy. When I visit my husband at his corporate job, I’m always struck by the quiet in his office. It’s so quiet! Sometimes, I am envious.
I love my job with children, my life as mother to two daughters and I love getting together with friends.
But I always crave solitude. I want to be alone to read, write and just feel calmness.
Fortunately, I am married to a man who will help me out. He will take the girls to violin lessons without me if I need some seclusion.
Seclusion. Solitude. Loneliness. Some people like to be alone. I do. I think this is a good thing. It means you like yourself!
Demand some privacy. Detach yourself from social media and people. It’s OK. In fact, I’d argue that you NEED it, you need to know yourself, your self. Make it a priority.
Your Purpose Relies on Community
Because I work with children all day (super busy bees!) and have two children of my own, daydreaming about solitude occurs from time to time. To be alone! Ahhhhh! To stand in silence. I dream.
But it is within community that we find meaning in our lives and our work. You might work alone, but your work inevitably touches people. If it doesn’t, it’s not of value.
Kismet 
