Don't Fear Silence

These days the younger generation seems to be pretty happy to keep their nose in their phone. Imagine for a moment that you are so consumed with yourself that you are convinced that every moment of every day revolves completely around you. For my generation that's pretty hard to imagine. Although they are not really engaging with anyone during this activity you still couldn't consider it quite time. As for us in Generation X, we were raised on garden hose water, M-80's, and neglect. Nowhere in that scenario are we considered ultimately important, or for that matter even necessary. We grew up on the tail end of times when children were to be seen but not heard. Pretty much the only time the focus was turned on us was when the streetlights came on.

There are times when the weather man is so far off it's pathetic. You may be wondering what the weather man has to do with solitude but roll with me on this and I promise to make it worth your while. Can you picture any other job where you could be wrong 50% of the time and still get to keep your job. One thing is for certain though, if you ever see your local weather man at the grocery store stocking up on bananas, milk, and toilet paper he may not be shooting straight with you and you can be sure snow is on the way. Once around the first part of March my local weather man said at 10pm the night before that we would likely awaken to a "DUSTING" of snow. When I woke up the next morning there was just shy of a foot on the ground. I'm uncertain if you'd call that a near miss or a near hit. I'll consult with my safety man on that and get back to you.

It appears that today (too) is going to be one of those snow days. So, I guess I'll have to put off things I'd planned today like a cycle ride, my chicken house project, and pre-plotting my spring garden. My family loves their electronic devices, but what I am doing can be done completely without the aid of the internet. In fact, I only have two screens going today, the sliding glass door and a log in the fireplace. Along with a few sharpened pencils and a blank notebook it should turn out to be a great day. When I tell my family they should never be afraid to be alone with their own thought they often look at me like I am from another planet. Some days I'd just rather be without the noise of the television. I think people have lost the understanding that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. I especially revere my alone time, and I suppose one reason why is, I rather enjoy my own company. My friends, don't fear solitude; weather you realize it or not it's your friend and can help keep you centered.

A day of solitude can often give us time to reflect and charge our batteries when it is sorely needed. When it seems that the rest of the world has gone a bit mad there is still a spot within our own brains where sanity still resides. I'll be the first one to admit that too much solitude could make a person go mad. That is why in many prison movies men are thrown into what is called "THE HOLE" with little water, half food rations, and no sunlight. But it is also a good idea to give our brains a break from the world. Just remember, nearly every opportunity in life is a balancing act. The only reminder that we need that we enjoy solitude is to have a house full people over a long weekend.

Information overload is surely a thing; don't try to deny it. I work with a woman who watches zero news, this in short means she leaves the world's madness on the table for other people to sort out. She may be on to something come to think of it. Information usually creates stress and needless worry, and truly what is the point in that? I like the idea of being able to record my thoughts by scribbling and essentially leaving the internet at the back door unless it is truly necessary. Being on the internet is a bit like dating that girl next door who (as granny often said) wears her pants so tight you can see her religion. Chances are you ARE going to get a virus; the question is how hard will it be to get rid of? Will Comet Cleanser take care of it or will need something more industrial? While it is true there is a whole plethora of useful information that can be derived from the internet, we should all be reminded that the devil also resides in it so be careful my friends.

There is a beautiful sound that follows a heavy snow like the whole world was just harnessed with a giant muffler. Have you ever taken the time to remove the floor mats from your bathroom floor to wash them? When you put them back it's a bit like that. There is also a beauty in a freshly fallen snow that twinkles like the twilight. Isn't it interesting that something like snow that usually ends up in the negative column could be such a positive. Today I thank the good Lord for my home, my central heat, my fireplace, a pot of chili, and when all is said and done even for the snow.