A Place for the Singing of Angels: The Power of Silence and Solitude (or at least no e-mail)

Monday September 8, 2008

Categories: Anxiety, Depression, Inspiration and Prayer, Mental Health

I realize that this post is a tad hypocritical since my paycheck depends on your clicks, but I need to tell you about my inner transformation during my 19-day hiatus from the computer because, as you might suspect, my mood...

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Comments (9)

Filed Under: anxiety, Beyond Blue, depression, depression blog, depression support, Internet, online addiction, prayer, silence, solitude, Therese Borchard, Thomas Merton, vacation

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Melzoom

September 8, 2008 10:24 AM

Good for you, Therese. I can't even imagine how many emails you get...
Take care of you

Fr Christian Mathis

September 8, 2008 4:47 PM

Glad that you got some time for yourself. Quiet is definitely good for the soul!

marilyn

September 8, 2008 7:51 PM

therese we all need to take a step back for ourselves.life will go on and people will still be there.but if you dont take time out once in awhile it will send you over the edge then you not doing yourself or anyone else any good.i am proud of you.keep takeing some time its healthy.

Veronika

September 8, 2008 8:24 PM

I wholeheartedly agree that silence is the best "vacation" one can take from so called reality.
I have developed an addiction :) to silence, and have given up TV for 8 yr. I really don't miss it. I still like to see movies, but TV depresses me.
Blessings Therese, for bringing conscious awareness to how you drain your own energy. The frantic pace of modern life is a chosen one. We can get off the hamster wheel any time we choose. When we get off that wheel, it's doubtful we'll get back on.Keep up the good work. Nice quotes...I love Merton and Ghandi.
Contemplative prayer is a beautiful thing...

Gil

September 9, 2008 5:30 AM

I so understand. I require *my* time every single day, similar to my requirement for oxygen. There isn't a soul in my family who isn't aware of this, though most consider me to be rather odd because of my penchant for aloneness. There are some who view such necessity for personal escape, to be hurtful or dismissive. I often wonder, were I not to have had the privilege of early retirement, if I would *ever* have recuperated appropriately as the sound of silence has been a necessary aim towards wellness. Isn't it funny that to "isolate" oneself can be so healing, rather than a worrisome symptom? I admire those of you who slug at it every day and even manage to *enjoy* the experience.

SissyJo

September 9, 2008 10:07 AM

Amen Therese - That is exactly what the doctor ordered... We all have to have silence, a break from the constant onslaught of the outside world, whether it be Email, telephone, work setting - you name it, family included. Silence calms the soul and allows the mind to unwind........ and ultimately wind down and process thoughts in a calming manner. I want to hear the angels singing too - I love that. Thanks for printing those excerpts. Peace and quiet - AHHH...

September 9, 2008 10:42 AM

At the risk of appearing to insult your paycheck, which I do not intend, I also find that less internet = more happiness. There is just too much junk out there - negativity, dumb articles, maddening sites dedicated to silly things like obsessions with makeup (do I have real issues with what my gender values and what I think that reflects about our capacity as humans? YES). Less is more. I've never been happier than when I've been outside more, and disconnected from tech more.

chaz

September 13, 2008 7:58 PM

Ok help appreciated
how do you handle emotion-sucking vampires?
Have co-worker that I've damn near alienated
just because
I'm so sick of all the negative drama in his life

3 yrs I've been working with this person
and not till this last year
when I've been over-bombarded with my own personal @home drama
that I've been able to stop the poor-me, miserable minute by minute detail of his life

I could use some nice one or two liners, other than my excuse me on an errand/bathroom, whatever.

Diane Marrese

September 5, 2009 7:23 PM

I love silence and have been doing Centering Prayer/Contemplative
prayer for years.It does help you with Focus and direction in your
life.A jesuit named Maloney has had a small booklet out on it for years.Thomas Keatings writings are also helpful and he also has a web site which I would Suggest."BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD"

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