On stillness, quiet, and joy

A response to Pico Iyer, “The Joy of Quiet” (New York Times).

I guess it’s a little ironic to be posting this on Tumblr, since it’s an article about disconnecting.  But I wondered so many things as I read it.

What brings you joy?  How important is it to you to disconnect?  What do you do to find peace, or stillness, or even just to maintain your sanity?

After many months of involuntary stillness last year, my perspective shifted profoundly.  On the one hand, I returned to find the world louder and more chaotic than I’d remembered.  On the other hand, I welcomed the reassurance of noise, the excitement of speed, and the warmth of abundant company.

For me, what matters is a balance.  Equal parts noise and quiet, movement and stillness, indulgence and restraint, connection and aloneness.  These are the contrasting spaces in which I find joy and peace.

I am nourished by homemade meals with new and old friends.  I thrive on creative mornings and quiet evenings.

Sometimes I find it a little strange when technology is portrayed as the enemy of peace.  While I was sick, I found a great deal of comfort via the internet.  Kind emails, funny videos, and pretty pictures helped to break up the long solitude of each day.

Of course these things are different from the physical presence of another human being.  Of course the internet won’t cure the discomfort that sometimes accompanies solitude. 

The internet is simply a tool, to be used for whatever purposes we see fit.  Like anything, it is most effective when used in thoughtful moderation.  It is neither the answer to all of our problems nor the obstacle in the way of our sanity.

I also find it interesting that the author mentions and practices extreme measures in the quest for peace.  Do we really have to run away to the ends of the earth to find a little peace and quiet?  

I realize our environments can deeply affect our minds and bodies.  But I think we have the ability to create a more lasting peace when we choose to incorporate quiet and stillness into our everyday lives, rather than searching for peace in some far off, mysterious place.

What about you?  Do you think peace is a place?  A state of mind?  A process?

Check out the original article here in the New York Times.  Photo by Nathan Trivette on Etsy.