In a world where the pace is often unforgiving and unrelenting processing the concept of stillness can be challenging, the mind perhaps summersaulting as it tries to fathom how stillness can even be a thing let alone an achievable thing.

Recent events have fortunately pointed me towards the realization that ‘stillness’ and ‘silence’ can be achieved when one makes a concerted effort to take a hiatus of duration either short or long from the demanding merry go round of our modern lives.

The usual hectic pace I came to know as my normal has slightly subsided during COVID times and has been a refreshing change. The self-imposed need to fill every minute of every day under the misconstrued belief that we live but once and could be wasting precious time has necessitated re-assessment. It has dawned on me that slowing down, meditating, reflecting and centering are all important to my wellbeing and doing nothing and sitting in silence for even a small duration each day is a necessary part of my daily routine in ensuring the remaining minutes count for something – that something being achieving crucial clarity and perspective as a result.

I am by no means advocating pursuing yogi status in the quietude goals arena – the realm of holy men who renounce all worldly possessions to chase a life of service to God and man and spend years in complete isolation and quiet contemplation is but for the few who have this as their life’s calling’. For the rest of us though there can still be place no matter what our life goals and mapped destinations, for the beneficial ritual of the occasional spell of stillness and quietude.

With leisure travel on hold for the foreseeable future a staycation is on the cards for me like many others. This years’ staycation promises to be filled with activities closer to home – more to the point, it will cater for large chunks of stillness and meditative reflection. This may be the holiday that the wise doctor long ordered for me given that my previous choices have been to travel away and pack in all manner of bucket list activities and more general touristy pursuits only to return home not feeling rested but instead requiring a holiday to recover from the tiring pace pursued and achieved on pure adrenaline. There will and always should be a place for those adventure packed getaways but I will be much more inclined in future to intersperse them with the laid back leisurely breaks.

I share with you a link to a Ted Talk by Pico Iyer on ‘Stillness’ whose book titled The Art of Stillness : Adventures in Going Nowhere’ I read a few years ago. This relatively short, easy to read and thought provoking book resonated with me deeply, highlighting for me the benefits of moving away from the constant rushing around and instead making time for the quiet centering moments which I have come to call a most valuable ally in my goal of achieving physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

https://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_the_art_of_stillness