Listen to the Quiet
The seatback TV screen on a long international flight offers a variety of entertainment options. On our way back from Asia to North America, I watched the movie "That They May Face the Rising Sun" (2023) to relax my body and mind. One line from this movie "listen to the quiet" resoniated with me and inspired this post.
I like this line simply because that's part of my morning routine. After sending the kids onto the school bus, I would sit in the small chair by the garage door and listen to the quiet—birds' chirping, whistles of the trees, running water in the creek, sound of a chipmunk or a squirrel, and even the moving clouds in the sky. Those few minutes sitting there calm me down and I feel the connection with the nature.
Listening to the quiet in late night feels a bit different. In raining nights, I could hear rain drops pounding the roof randomly. In windy nights, the trees and silding make strange sounds. The peacful nights when I could hear owl's talk might be a bit scary just thinking what's happending outside in the dark...
The value of a simple, peaceful life
When I was younger, I partied a lot with friends, drove fast cars with loud music. As I'm growing older, I like the quiet moments more and more, where nothing too exciting happens but our normal day-to-day routine. Such lifestyle gives me time and space to settle my mind to focus, reflect the past, and think about the future.
The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
A contrast with the busy external world
In the movie, the quiet of the rural setting is presented as a valuable escape from the distractions of modern life. While I juggle between busy work and daily life with kids, I do appreciate the quiet time either during the day or in the night when I'm alone.