personal space
April 23, 2013 § 12 Comments
Last Thursday the rain dismissed us of electricity. During the daylight we nestled near the windows, my daughter keeping a flashlight in hand for dark corners. We spent the day finding and creating distractions, disconnected from technology and in harmony together. By the time our power cast reflective pools of light across the water outside, I had ceased looking outward.
In the days since I have questioned so many simple habits. Unfolding my laptop, familiar keystrokes echo emptiness. Social media feels overly orchestrated, trivial updates in the face of world events seem to distort measurements of self and the space I consume. Not normally one to linger in darkness I cannot seem to shrug the uncertainty of my own written presence any more than I can let go of the silent belonging that accompanies scattering pieces of my life into the wind.
Today I wonder if it might be time to gather my thoughts into a more personal space, somewhere between the comfort of coarse paper pages.
scribblechic 
“We spent the day finding and creating distractions, disconnected from technology and in harmony together.” — You could not have more beautifully described the ongoings in a home without electricity. Your writing style is beautiful!
Thank you. Now if only I can hold tightly to the lesson of this moment, guarding my consciousness and stilling my spirit.
Perhaps that’s the one thing we lack the most in this modern world–the quiet spaces. Sadly there are so very few left in the natural world–even the wilder places still have the noise of overhead aircraft–so we have to orchestrate reasonable facsimiles, as best we can. Periodically turning off the communication devices and turning up the sensitivity on the ears and eyes is good therapy.
BTW–I, too, loved the way you put the words together.
Thank you. I couldn’t agree more that we must create sacred silence between the noise of everyday life.
In case you were wondering, your post triggered a memory probably started by this radio episode from last spring.
http://www.onbeing.org/program/last-quiet-places/4557
I love this! Thanks for sharing!!
“I had ceased looking outward.” Lovely it is 🙂
Thank you!
Maybe there’s no need to choose between public (and seemingly ephemeral) writing and the hoped-for permanence of those “coarse paper pages.” Blogging and its immediacy provide a good way to warm up, stay in shape, and get some helpful feedback. For what it’s worth, I hope you decide to do both.
The decision to journal privately, rather than openly, rests in doubt. The leap of faith that allowed me to become vulnerable and share now whispers a new challenge. I find myself on another ledge, measuring the risk of falling.
Sorry, my initial response to your comment was vague. I appreciate the kind encouragement and agree that this space is a wonderful resource.
That’s okay. You’re allowed to be vague. Blogging can be rewarding, but it also has disadvantages. And sometimes being open and vulnerable can help improve one situation and, at the same time, create a whole new set of problems. You’ll figure it out.