A little bit more Bjork.

Do you know what I want to talk about today? The NOISE.

I’d like it to be oh so quiet.

The noise - it’s loud.

The news is loud - it’s bombarding us with negativity - dread and fear about the next few months with regards to the cost of living, war, politics, COVID.

The end of term is loud - kids are loud, trying to juggle work and childcare is loud, planning days out is loud, comparing to others is loud.

Social media is loud - it’s filling us with the need to consume, false ideas of what life SHOULD look like and (for me) it’s full of businesses selling hard because nobody is buying.

My thoughts are loud - capitalism, feminism, community, care (to name a few). And from conversations I have had with people I know I am not alone in this.

It’s all so loud… And I am craving peace and quiet. So, how do I do it? Over the years I have gathered a few ways that I can travel more internally then externally - and I’m sharing them with you here.

1. Being in the sea.
   Seeing the horizon while in the water is my kind of peace. As cliché as it sounds - it helps me contextualize things that feel messy.

2. Being quiet and still.
   I won’t call it what it is - meditation, because I know that can put people off. But sitting still, with the intention of being quiet and still works damn well. Want quiet? Be the quiet. Let your mind focus softly on your breath, let thoughts come and go. And just be.

3. Being outside.
   Near water, near trees, in the garden - anything that takes me closer to nature. I don’t even think about being near nature, it just feels good, right, to be away from non-natural things.

4. Being away from my phone.
   I love my phone, I love social media - it has a great place. BUT, I sometimes use it as a coping mechanism and that’s not great for me. So I ignore my phone - pop it on silent, maybe on flight mode and be away from it.

I hope this has helped, like I say I know I am exhausted by the noise. Until next time,

L xx