[Ezrigirl]

As being bipolar, I find silence enjoyable.

When I wake up early in the morning, or, when it is late at night -- I enjoy the silence. When it is 5 am, and I am out of bed, with a cup of coffee and siting in a chair next to a lamp. I can spend minutes, thinking of the silence of the new day. It is still pitched black outside, and very little traffic on the street. The only sound that breaks the silence, is the AC going or the heat going in the winter. But, when it is not running, there is the silence. I struggle to hear anything, and when I do I might be hearing my breathing.

When there is pure silence, I experience the total void of humanity with just a single member within humanity being myself. Yes, I have neighbors living close to me. I know they are there. But, the silence has become my life partner. Does anyone else enjoy the void of the silence too?

[fern46]

I enjoy silence. It helps me recharge. I stay at home with my kids and we homeschool. There is usually someone needing something from me or something in my home requiring my attention most of the day. I stay on the go for most of the time after my feet hit the floor. My kids go to their rooms for a rest time every afternoon though. The house is quiet and I can just be for a little while. Sometimes I do activities, but I usually take at least a little time to sit and enjoy the silence. All of the craziness of the day melts away for a moment and my brain slows down. My body relaxes and I feel better about taking on the afternoon and evening activties to come. I love what I do and I love being around people, but I am very grateful for quiet moments.

I wouldn't say that I like a "void", but I definitely do like quiet. Over the years, I think I've developed a degree of sensory sensitivity. I have theories about the causes. Past musical hallucinations likely contributed to my sound sensitivity. This sensitivity also applies to light. Excess light is difficult to endure for me. It has triggered everything from bipolar episodes, to anxiety, to migraines, to possible seizure activity. I haven't always been like this. I'm also guessing past trauma may have been involved.

I've written about sensory overload in my blog, in the past. I do think this sensitivity has started to ease a little over the last couple years, but not completely.

[Ezrigirl]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I wouldn't say that I like a "void", but I definitely do like quiet.

There is a difference between quiet and the void of silence.

They say No Man is a Island, and the book "No Man is a Island" by Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) states it very well. Even that Pope Francis talked about him when he gave a joint address to the American Congress. Still, it is a interesting read.

If I had a vast independent wealth, I would fully withdraw from society. Move to a very rural state, have a home in a mountain area out west like Idaho or western Montana. True, I would need groceries, and other basic needs. Still, like books and other needs I can always order online. Then I can really enjoy the silence within my house and outside. And being outside, only the wind and the birds and animals would be breaking that silence.

Originally Posted by Ezrigirl

There is a difference between quiet and the void of silence.

They say No Man is a Island, and the book "No Man is a Island" by Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) states it very well. Even that Pope Francis talked about him when he gave a joint address to the American Congress. Still, it is a interesting read.

If I had a vast independent wealth, I would fully withdraw from society. Move to a very rural state, have a home in a mountain area out west like Idaho or western Montana. True, I would need groceries, and other basic needs. Still, like books and other needs I can always order online. Then I can really enjoy the silence within my house and outside. And being outside, only the wind and the birds and animals would be breaking that silence.

Thank you for sharing about the book by Thomas Merton. I have never read it. I will look for it in the near future. Have you ever read "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau? I'm not sure if Thoreau's experience is exactly what you are looking for, but it at least seems similar in some ways.

[Ezrigirl]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

Have you ever read "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau? I'm not sure if Thoreau's experience is exactly what you are looking for, but it at least seems similar in some ways.

As a former college student with only a undergrad degree, I have read "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. And if someone is a former college student, and did not read the book -- they did miss out on a major college experience.

His civil disobedience dealing with the Mexican American War, is far more interesting. In a way, he is the founding father of the civil disobedience movements during the last century within America and the international community. Taking his civil disobedience, and wanting a simple basic lifestyle, leaders in civil disobedience have become major iconic international icons.

Originally Posted by Ezrigirl

As a former college student with only a undergrad degree, I have read "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. And if someone is a former college student, and did not read the book -- they did miss out on a major college experience.

His civil disobedience dealing with the Mexican American War, is far more interesting. In a way, he is the founding father of the civil disobedience movements during the last century within America and the international community. Taking his civil disobedience, and wanting a simple basic lifestyle, leaders in civil disobedience have become major iconic international icons.

I have an undergraduate degree (plus), too, but I read both "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience" in high school. That's kind of you to give a little summary regarding what motivated his essay "Civil Disobedience", but "Walden" has a little bit of a different emphasis. We sometimes take different things from different writings.

Perhaps I'm totally wrong about this, but would you prefer I not respond to your posts? I have been concerned about you and am trying to contribute in your threads, but fear irritation towards me. Do let me know. I'm fine if you'd rather me back away. I want you to feel comfortable here.

[Misery Business]

I do enjoy silence as it gives me the sense of peace. I however don't want it all the time, but there are many times in my life where it is very helpful. I enjoy going into my bedroom and keeping all my lights off, closing my eyes, and putting on my noise reduction earphones and just clearing my mind of everything that is going on in the outside world even if it is only for 15 minutes.

[Ezrigirl]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I have an undergraduate degree (plus), too, but I read both "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience" in high school. That's kind of you to give a little summary regarding what motivated his essay "Civil Disobedience", but "Walden" has a little bit of a different emphasis. We sometimes take different things from different writings.

Perhaps I'm totally wrong about this, but would you prefer I not respond to your posts? I have been concerned about you and am trying to contribute in your threads, but fear irritation towards me. Do let me know. I'm fine if you'd rather me back away. I want you to feel comfortable here.

Please, do not worry about my feelings. I am just bipolar ... your comments are not like acid being dumped onto my body to see if my skin burns.

The book "Walden" is a different type of 19th century American book, in fact, it stands alone with any canon from that time period. In fact, a cannon book being as close to "Walden" and interacts with people in our current society, is "Thus Spoke Zarathustra". One is a American the other is German, they never meet each other or interacted with each other. Still, if your supporting "Walden" your most likely supporting "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" too.

Now, when I am driving down the highway and I see someone driving a 20 year old red Volvo with dozens of bumper stickers plastered all over the place. I am thinking in the back of my head, do they have a copy of "Walden" inside their car.

[not4me256]

Originally Posted by Ezrigirl

As being bipolar, I find silence enjoyable.

When I wake up early in the morning, or, when it is late at night -- I enjoy the silence. When it is 5 am, and I am out of bed, with a cup of coffee and siting in a chair next to a lamp. I can spend minutes, thinking of the silence of the new day. It is still pitched black outside, and very little traffic on the street. The only sound that breaks the silence, is the AC going or the heat going in the winter. But, when it is not running, there is the silence. I struggle to hear anything, and when I do I might be hearing my breathing.

When there is pure silence, I experience the total void of humanity with just a single member within humanity being myself. Yes, I have neighbors living close to me. I know they are there. But, the silence has become my life partner. Does anyone else enjoy the void of the silence too?

I love it too. I love sitting on the porch swing listening to the birds and feeling a gentle breeze also.

[Ezrigirl]

Originally Posted by not4me256

I love it too. I love sitting on the porch swing listening to the birds and feeling a gentle breeze also.

Interesting! Since I live in Tennessee, and being in the sub-tropics: during a average day in July and August: it is above 90F, and you cannot purchase a breeze.

[Wild Coyote]

I tend to like my environment quiet, too. I so enjoy hearing the birds sing!

Otherwise, I like quiet as my PTSD is often "in play" and I get too rattled if I am trying to concentrate in the midst of a lot of noise. Noise often goes right through me! Very uncomfortable!

It is quiet around me right now, save the quiet hum of a fan gently whirling above my head. I love it!

[Ezrigirl]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I so enjoy hearing the birds sing!

As a child, I recall a vast amount of birds gathering. They were in the thousands, and were in a a tight group of trees. They were getting ready to go south for the winter. They were gathered together for a number of days, and they were very vocal with each other. Thank you for bring back that childhood memory.

[Cornucopia]

This spring I got a puppy, so I’m out walking/hiking almost every day. Even when I was depressed- it didn’t make things worse, I was okay with it.

Now I love going for a walk in the forest- enjoying the beauty of nature. He is an adorable dog- and seeing the joy in him when we explore new environments makes me happy. I think he is good for my mental health. (But it was really hard work in the first month or so, puppies are energetic and have so much to learn )

Beloved solitude, my number one coping mechanism. I find peace in my solitude. Add nature and the smell of fresh air and I’m in a really good place.

[yellow_fleurs]

I also enjoy solitude especially in nature. I sometimes get overstimulated in terms of my surroundings and it brings down my stress. Sometimes when depressed I isolate too much, though. That just makes me more depressed then.

[Ginger Mary]

I just love the silence. Especially when my mind also goes a bit silent.

It's like a short reprieve from all the chaotic noise (literal and figurative) and is the best way for me to relax. I just sit alone in the sun or stand and look out at the garden and cats.
Sleeping doesn't do it for me because I have insane nightmares, insomnia and sleep apnea. And I always feel that you don't get to experience the quiet and rest while sleeping. You close your eyes and the next thing you know it's morning again. Like time just jumped forward.I often get up in the morning feeling more tired than last night.
But when I have a moment of quiet I cherish it until it gets broken .

[Sunflower123]

I love the silence and get up early, early most mornings to enjoy it. It recharges and soothes me at the same time.

I also like going to the pool early in the morning. It’s very quiet and I can listen to the birds and see the rabbits and squirrels having breakfast.

[sarahsweets]

I like to "hear" the quiet. By that I mean: no cars, construction, kids, husband, planes. When those are gone I can tune into the sound of the bullfrogs in my neighbors pond and the crickets. The cicadas and birds. The wind. All the whispers of nature from the dry leaves in autumn to the hollow quiet of falling snow. I listen for the neighborhood turkeys( they chased me in the house a month ago) and the rustling of the groundhog my dogs want to kill. Being able to actually hear the wind is very zen like to me. I do not like silence or a void-as in the absence of sound. I get up every day at 4am. I enjoy this part of my day. My husband gets up around 530 and that hour and a half each morning is the best part of the day. Second best is midnight on my deck on a sunday night- the bar down the street is closed and people are generally tucked in to prepare for work the next day. To me complete silence and a void is depressing and lonely. I like knowing I am a small part of a very alive planet.