I drove home from work in complete silence the other day. No music, no podcast, no background noise to fill the space. Just the sound of the road and my own thoughts.
It wasn’t intentional at first, I was in a rush to hit the road, but a few minutes in, I realized how rare that moment felt and how overstimulated I’ve become throughout the day. From the moment I wake up, there is something that needs my attention: notifications, emails, social media, playlists, videos. Even when I enjoy the content, it’s still CONSTANT input.
The silence was uncomfortable at first. I was so close to turning on a playlist to keep my mind occupied. But then my body started to relax and it became very comfortable. I wasn’t reacting, consuming, or multitasking. I was just present.
We live in a culture that values staying connected, informed, and productive at all times. There’s this pressure to always be listening, watching, responding. And with the state of our country, it’s VERY hard to not be constantly tapped in. But moments like that quiet drive made me realize how little space I give myself to simply exist without stimulation.
Silence is a form of rest. It’s a way to let your nervous system breathe after hours of noise.
Now I don’t know how often I’ll keep driving in silence, because everyone knows I love listening to music (very loudly, I might add). But I am recognizing the need to be more intentional about when and how I engage with media in general.
In that silence, though, I was reminded that being still, even briefly, can be enough.
Tianna Woodford
Executive Assistant
