Sunday Journal Prompt

“In music the rests are as important as the notes.”

– Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life

 

I spent this weekend at a silent retreat, an opportunity to unplug and recharge. Instructed to leave my iPhone in my car, I didn’t even know what time it was for most of the weekend. For some members of my group, staying quiet was quite difficult. Though not talking was comfortable for me, averting eye contact—as we were told to do—made me feel rude since I enjoy connecting with people nonverbally. However, I did appreciate the benefits of holding onto all my energy. I read, wrote, practiced yoga, walked and meditated. I touched tree trunks and savored pink clouds at sunset. On Saturday evening we roasted S'mores over a bonfire beside a river and sang songs—the only time I heard my voice that day.

Travel tends to mark transitions in my life—opportunities where I get out of my daily routine, recharge and reflect on the big picture: What’s working well? What do I want to change? What steps can I take to get there? Even though the retreat center was just two hours away and I was only gone for two days, I feel heightened perspective and clarity—as well as great gratitude for my family and friends. As Matthew Kelly writes in The Rhythm of Life, “The silence makes the noise more meaningful.”

How might you incorporate more pauses into your life?