Quiet doesn't mean silence. It means a noticeable lack of chatter. It means reading a book - not watching TV or listening to music. The reality is, silence would be hard to come by in our world. Might even be disturbing. Imagine if the birds didn't sing. Or the trees didn't swish in the wind. Today the squirrels chatter and clatter as they race along the back fence. Only the crows are silent as they stealthily pick up twigs for their nests. In a few weeks, their raucous cawing will fill the air in a warning to the hapless who stray under their tree. But for now, the only sounds are soft.
So, I'm lying there thinking about Q and counting the sounds of morning. It is peaceful. I realized that the state I'm really enjoying is Quietude which the Oxford Dictionary defines as " a state of stillness, calmness and quiet in a person or place". That's more like the word I want: Quietude.
An excellent Q word. I know plenty of people who don't enjoy quiet, but it's something I enjoy very much - although, like you said, I wouldn't want the sounds of nature to be quiet.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week. :)
I do embrace that particular Q word when I happen to encounter it, but unless I'm off work, it's a curse to use it in a sentence.
ReplyDeleteI love it when it's quiet. Wel devoid of nasty noises that is, and that includes the big Wood Pigeons that coo on top of the chimney all day long.
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to the sound of the songbirds though.
Loved this post Stephanie. I'm inspired to go out to my porch and listen to the birds as I sip my morning coffee.
ReplyDeleteYes. That is what I will do right now.
My nephew once said that his generation was addicted to noise. I had never thought of it that way. I am sitting here at my table listening to the quiet hum of the refrigerator, the purr of the air conditioning and the occasional distant car passing. I can only look outside as the pollen is flying thick and my oldest sneezes violently coming in contact with it. Even the kids are quiet right now while they are downstairs cleaning their rooms (Spring break). I love your pictures for this post. Quietude - excellent word.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post. Quietude--that's the word. When we're up at Saturna we sometimes get moments of silence without any of the background hum of traffic. Only the sound of the trees gently moving. Beautiful. That top photo is very serene.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written! And the pictures were perfect too!
ReplyDeleteThose pics look Heavenly! Loved the description too :O)
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about these two words and the difference between them. So I have learned something today, there is a big difference!!
ReplyDeleteDear friend. I have the problem, that I'm hearing all to well. So most of the day I choose music as background sounds - if not, I can hear cars longdistance, children same, and totally close my house, I hear every little noice, too indoors, offcause. Believe me, it's no fun at all :(
ReplyDeleteBut TV is not at mine - and my husbands - list. We had a big one, when we moved here to Lolland 11 years ago, but after few month we set it out in a garage, and have never mist it few second since :-D
May you and your dear ones have a Happy Easter - and thanks for all your kind comments at my blog!
There is something in that word (quietude) that makes me take a deep breath and reach that inner stillness. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteAnd your serene photos certainly help in that regard.
Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteIf people are not talking to me, I like "quietude." What a great word!
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