Quietude – The Essentialist Perspective
By T.K. Coleman
I recently attended a silent retreat at a monastery. At one point, while sitting outside in meditation, I saw a beautiful image hanging on the wall of a chapel. My immediate thought was: I should take a picture of that and share it on social media.
As I reached for my phone, I paused and asked myself: “Do I ignore my phone and continue to bask in the richness of this silence?” Or… “Do I get online and make some noise about the richness of this silence?”
I chose to ignore the phone and return to the silence. Growing up, I heard the phrase, “Dance like no one is watching.” Now, I navigate a world that seems to say, “Hey kid…you gotta dance! Everyone is watching!” Each perspective holds a special truth.
When we unplug from the commotion of crowds, we discover the moves and grooves of our soul. We learn to dance to the rhythms of our true self. When we reach out and connect with others, we master steps that only a community can teach. We learn to move in harmony with the world.
Silence is like a dance with yourself; connection is like a dance with others—and both are exquisite. The beauty isn’t found in renouncing one or the other—it’s in knowing when to embrace each dance.
Without silence, we lose touch with ourselves. Without connection, we drift apart from one another. It’s a delicate dance.
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