Hello
Everyone,
It
is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time.
IWSG
is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help
to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving
encouragement and help to others.
So,
if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you
directly to us:
My report:
Submission July 2017
Death – a poem in the Rattle Poetry Contest
Outstanding Submissions
Lascaux Review – The Woman and Her Dream
The Wigleaf - The Box in the Loft
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Anthology –
Turn the Lights On
A Time
to Be Silent and A Time to speak; A time to embrace and a Time to Refrain From
When someone wakes up in the morning talking non-stop, I am annoyed. I
do not see what is so important that people must pollute the atmosphere with
conversation. I wonder if people ever listen to the birds twittering or the
sounds of the trees as they crack as they awaken in the dew of early morn. Or, have
they ever observed as the dawn says goodbye and permit the sun its time to
shine? Talking does have its place but
have we forgotten the value of silence? There is a time to be silent and a time to
speak.
We humans do not notice it, but we tend to grumble and complain about
ourselves, about others, and about nature. The sun is shining but. Yes, it is
good that it rained, but. Sure, I have a good job, but. Yes, I write, but. Yes, I do like my nappy hair, but. She does
excellent work but sometimes. These buts annoy and warn me to move along
quickly. A shadow is about to be cast upon someone or something. There is a time to embrace and a time to
refrain from.*
I treasure my morning time filled with silence like some people treasure
a morning cup of tea or a cup of coffee, and I do my best to attack the
negative buts in myself and kill them and to avoid the negativity others speak
out. There is a time to be silent and
a time to speak.
I like to embrace people. Thus, I have to refrain from my own
self-righteous thoughts of being better than those people I encounter. Notice I said, refrain from* my own self-righteous
thoughts? Grumbling or complaining about
others makes me feel like I can do it better. There is a time to embrace and a
time to refrain from.*
Wishing
all of you a lovely month of August and be safe.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
*Quote from Ecc 3: parts of verses 5 and 7. From, by the word refrain, was added by the author.
Silence has a way to emphasise the beauty of nature around me during my morning walk. It also makes it an easy transition from walking to writing. I wish others would understand that silence isn't a burden or something that has to be solved or chased away with loud music and conversation. Silence is a gift in a world filled with empty noise.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by Ronel. I too wish people would not see silence as a burden.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I can definitely relate to wanting quiet time in the morning. I like to wake up slowly over a cup of coffee before I speak to anyone. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere you go, so do I. I like waking up and getting my thoughts together over a cup of coffee before the hustle and bustle of the day.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
So very true, close our ears to distractions and open our hearts to all the beauty around us, which is God's glory. Take time to rejoice in all He has given. But thank Him for every sound, of nature or of man, as it pleasing to Him. God bless you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteYes, my dear friend,
DeleteIt is wonderful to wake up in the morning with praise in our hearts regardless of whether the sun is shining or it is raining as we listen to the beats of silence.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
Some wise words, Pat!
ReplyDeleteI don't talk in the morning because it takes several hours for my brain to turn on.
Yes! So is it for me. I often say, people, please give me time to turn on.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Excellent points on silence and speaking. And negativity. I think if you are surrounded by people who are always negative, you become negative too. It's a constant battle to be positive, but it really does make life better if you can tune into the good parts of it.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
I so agree with you. I have come to the point where I do my best to avoid negative people at all costs. I just don't have the time for them because that's not the way I'm going.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I love quiet and silence. It feeds my soul.
ReplyDeleteI've been working on not complaining so much. It has started to feel automatic, as if the words just tumble from my mouth without any thought. I don't like that, and I'm working on changing it. :)
I love quiet and silence too and it is difficult but like you I have chosen to stay away from negative people and negative thoughts. I catch myself these days by thinking before I speak.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Quiet is always welcomed! Love your eagle picture, by the way.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Quiet is always welcomed by me too.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I enjoy the silence especially in the morning. With three kids, it's a rarity! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Jennifer, with three kids, it is a rarity but how nice to know that you do get the chance to enjoy silence every now and then. It makes the sounds of silence even more special.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Yes, out morning is mostly quiet, except for John's TV reporting the morning news. At least I don't have to worry about a jabber-box in out apartment! PHEW!!
ReplyDeleteGirlfriend,
DeleteSo happy to hear that you do get the chance to enjoy the silence.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
I feel some people have a need to fill silence. Over the last few years, I've learned to enjoy the quiet and be grateful for what's around me: the trees, the clouds, the birds outside my window. I've gained an attitude of gratitude. It's humbling.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week!
Elsie
I so agree with your thoughts. It is humbling when one learns to enjoy quiet and an attitude of gratitude does rise up within us.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
What a lovely post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes, silence is an important part of my life, too. Some people act as though they're afraid of the stillness and the quiet... they must always have a television or radio blaring, or they must be yap, yap, yapping about everything and nothing. But it's in the quiet that we can find peace and the strength to keep our mouths shut. And sometimes we must do just that... keep our thoughts to ourselves... because it's far more important to be kind than to be right... just because we "know" we're right doesn't mean we have to express it.
Shalom.
Yes indeed, Susan. That's my experience also. It is in the quiet that we can find peace and the strength to keep our mouths shut.
DeleteThank you.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
I need to take a lesson from you. I am so negative and critical, about both myself and others.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you, though, regarding morning silence. There is nothing better than waking up to the wind blowing through the trees, birds chirping, and the pitter patter of rain against the window (even though all of those things may not happen in the same morning). Even better when I can "wake up slow". I have to be awake a good hour or two before words are allowed to be spoken. :)
With Love,
Mandy
Oh Mandy that was a hard lesson for me to learn about myself. It was an eye opener when I saw that my negativity and criticism often was a reflection of poor self-esteem within myself. When I saw that, I began to breathe easier and live lighter.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Great post, Pat! You're so right. How often do we hear variations on: "The sun is shining but." It's a poisonous phrase and should be eradicated, at least from my personal vocabulary. From now on, the sun is shining. Period. No 'buts."
ReplyDeleteThank you Olga.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I also do not like to talk much in the morning. I also try to delay getting on the Internet, which can be noisy as well. I loved what you had to say here. Complaining really drags me down--whether I'm doing it or someone else. It's something I'm working on in myself--and I loved what you said about embracing people and dealing with your own self-righteous thoughts. Yes, I have to guard against that too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your submissions!
Thank you, Jenni. I delay getting on the internet also. I intentionally don't answer emails unless they are urgent. Correspondence belong to my late afternoon. I do my best to not start talking before eleven in the morning and on Sundays, I have imposed a do not work ban which I enforce on myself and it feels so good being away from the computer for a day.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I never appreciated silence more until after I had kids. Sometimes, I just try to tune out the "Mama, mama, mama!"
ReplyDeleteYes, when you have kids you have to go with the flow. But aren't they wonderful. They're like sunshine.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Pat, I can never understand why people ALWAYS have ear buds in their ears while they walk, run, do chores. Doesn't anyone want to listen to their own thoughts? Great post. Thanks for reminding us about the time needed to just listen to the self and find something positive to say about life.
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
DeleteI don't understand that either. People go biking or running and they're talking on the phone. I sometime think we are afraid of our thoughts.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
Love your deep thoughts, and they're right on. One of the things concerning me lately is that people get so wrapped up in the noise and speed of life that they don't take time to pause and think. Especially about others. That's a dangerous trend.
ReplyDeleteYes, Crystal, I agree. There is a dangerous trend going on that most people don't recognise. And that is not being able to deal with silence because our thoughts rise and trouble us.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
The only sounds I appreciate in the mornings are the birds outside my window. They're the nosiest in spring and I love to see how busy they become when those babies arrive. Otherwise, I'm with you. Give me a quiet morning.
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely beautiful. One can learn so much by just listening to birds.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Thanks for stopping by my blog and offering encouragement. Thanks for sharing this post. It speaks to me on many levels. I'm a morning person and take great comfort in the stillness and quiet of the morning, but (as you state) it doesn't last and I often get bogged down with 'buts' throughout my day. Verbal silence has is place and time, and so does mental silence. Sometimes I just need to quiet my mind.
ReplyDeleteToi,
DeleteWe all need to quiet our minds. Sometimes, I find myself in the same situation and I have to forcefully make my mind be silent.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
I work from home and have the house to myself all day. I think about playing music, but most often I enjoy the silence more.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean. I have my office also at home. I usually don't play music because it disturbs me. But I do hear the music that is within me. That's comforting.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Pat, this is a beautifully written essay. I loved he bible quotes and I am much like you except that my mornings begin at noon and I am going to sleep just as dawn creeps up. I treasure the sound of silence during those times. And I commune with God.
ReplyDeleteThank you my dear. Like you, I treasure the sounds of silence as dawn creeps up. It is my time to commune with God.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
Silence is a blessing. We hear so much more when we can sit in silence for a while.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lynda. We would hear so much more if we could sit in silence for a while. It is truly a blessing to be able to do that.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I am listening to the birds right now! I find the sounds of nature soothing. It's my preferred soundtrack. Not a recording; the real thing. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The sounds of nature are soothing.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I love the sounds of silence...and yes, the awesome song of that name, too. I love my own company not that i'm anti-social. Silence serves us well.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, Denise. Silence does serve us well if we will let it. And I too love that awesome song by Simon and Garfunkel. It never ages.
DeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat
I have to admit, I rarely have true silence in my life. My brain's pretty much constantly on full-blast.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to experience true silence. Once you do, it will be something that you want to experience often.
DeleteAll the best, Misha.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
Some of my best times have been when I've lived or stayed in a rural area or the mountains and can just enjoy the feel, smell, and sound of natural surroundings. Now I live in the city so the sounds of urbanity are all around me, but I try to keep things quiet in the house much of the day.
ReplyDeleteYou have made a good case.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out