"Only in quiet waters things mirror themselve undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world:

Hans Margolius

This gentleman says in a few words what might take me paragraphs to state. Much has been said on this board regarding why our world today is so crazy. Many have said we should return to the "values" which founded our country-namaely christian principles. While I do not agree with this, per se, I think what is sorely missing from most of our lives is this sense of quiet-spending some time each day blocking out the noise and stilling the mind. Most have lost touch, and have become human "doings", and forgotten how to be a human "being".

The major difference between now and back then are the innumerable intrusions into our life today-all the ads, all the radio, tv, cable programs, all the choices we have to make in a day. There are more people, more cars, more trucks, more buses, and most are caught up in the "rat race" as it has been termed.

What may be principally needed is not necessarily a return to a particular religion, but a committment to quiet time-a time to reflect, and a time to be still. There is an old saying "Be still and know that I am God". This has been forgotten in our daliy living. What has happened is the masses HAVE lost their perspective, and the fear breeds more fear-When enough people see the world as a fearful place they create a fearful place.

Take some quiet time today. It all starts with today. Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. Do what you can today.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), June 02, 2000

Answers

I'd agree with this, FS. Once my children grew beyond the age wherein my presence was associated with nursing and the growling they felt in their stomaches, I was able to establish a recognized need for "private time." This was a time during which I could relax with no concern for the activities around me. What I chose to do with this time varied, but everyone knew it was MY time.

Important as well is a parent's "private time" with their children. I'm not talking about taking a child out to dinner on their birthday here. I'm talking about slotting a time out of one's life in order to point to one child [and ONLY one], and spending as long as it takes to discuss in a private environment [I used my bedroom, but others may have other choices] how their life is going, etc. I know that MY kids looked forward to PRIVATE TIME. It's here that a parent can listen to all grievances and provide a sortof cathartic release for a child who either has problems with siblings or society in general. No words need be said by the parent except in encouragement of continuing conversation by the child.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), June 02, 2000.

Q..are you so busy that it affects your view of the world?

A..No

-- laconic (zz@xx.edu), June 02, 2000.

Meditation On Silence

My silence, like an expanding sphere, spreads everywhere. My silence spreads like a radio song, above, beneath, left and right, within and without. My silence spreads like a wildfire of bliss; the dark thickets of sorrow and the tall oaks of pride are all burning up. My silence, like the ether, passes through everything, carrying the songs of earth, atoms, and stars into the halls of His infinite mansion. --- Paramahansa Yogananda

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), June 02, 2000.

I see people each & every day running from themselves. Running from one appointment to the next. Frenzied. Functioning on autopilot. Mechanical. Zombie-like. How sad.

This integrates quite nicely with eves thread I dont have to

God forbid these harried individuals should stop & take stock. Introspect. Contemplate. Meditate. Allow the sounds of a babbling brook to carry them off.

One cannot hide from oneself in silence.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), June 02, 2000.

Bingo-

Exactly what I was thinking-this DOES dovetail well with Eve's thread. Thanks for the meditation.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), June 02, 2000.

Interesting for me that this is posted today. Since I've retired, I've spent many happy, hours working in my wild flower and vegetable garden. This morning, *my* bird that I hadn't heard in a few days began its beautiful song. It was quiet, overcast and cool, and she was very close. I don't know what kind of bird it is, but of all the birds I've heard, this is the most beautiful of all. I just stood there for a long time and listened. I felt I had received a special gift.

I thought back about when I had a business and worked 12 and 14 hour days, and I thought, "What for?" I don't need a lot of things, in fact they tie me down by having to care for them. But I do need lots of quiet time--time for introspection, reading and gardening. I feel very lucky to be finally living my dream.

Slow down folks--smell the flowers. When you get my age, you'll wish you'd taken more time for yourself sooner and enjoyed more quiet times.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 02, 2000.

>Take some quiet time today

Great advice, but please don't do it while driving in heavy traffic. I'm getting the feeling that many of the local "soccer moms" use commute time as their quiet time, and they would do better to focus on the changing traffic conditions before they kill some driver in a Civic (me!) with their tank-like SUVs.

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), June 03, 2000.

Q..are you so busy that it affects your view of the world?

Not really; I am so busy that I question whether I have a view of the world. Got home of Thursday night. Spent Friday interviewing candidates for a job. Am spending today, writing evaluations of the interviews. Leave again on Monday. Get quiet time on Alaska Air.

Best wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

By-the-way:

Gilda pays my salary and she is a stern taskmaster :^)

A real slave driver.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Z1X---Since I'm a taxpayer, you must work for the government. As a fellow Missourian, would you mind telling me what it is exactly that you do. I want to make sure I'm getting my money's worth. Are you sure all this flying around all over the country is really necessary? Are you taking your quiet time on my time? (grin)

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 03, 2000.

gilda,

He could tell ya, but then he'd hafta kill ya.

-- flora (***@__._), June 03, 2000.

Fauna,

Since when is parthenogenesis a state secret?

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), June 03, 2000.

Gilda:

When you pay me for 40 h/week and I work 110 h/week, you shouldn't worry :^)

Don't like the travel. I want to stay at home and tend my garden. Won't be long until I can do what you do. If I survive all of these Alaska Air flights. You should see our data from the Mt Vernon [MO] research station last year.

Best wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

You call THIS working Z? I thought you said you were writing evaluations? Seems like you spend most of OUR time on the net.

-- taxpayer (dollars.hard@at.work), June 03, 2000.

Taxpayer:

Yep, it is part of my job [even thought this is a day off]. You know, taking names and IP addresses. Tough job, but someone has to do it. Now your complaint was what?

Best wishes,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

"Am spending today, writing evaluations of the interviews."

My complaint is that you are a liar, but that's typical for guvmint.

-- taxpayer (how.much@are.we.paying.you?), June 03, 2000.

Taxpayer:

Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't work for the goverment.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Taxpayer:

See I can't even spell it.

Best wishes,,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Aaaah, but your salary still comes from our taxes, and you are still a liar. I think we should do a little "investigating" on you, and see what you are doing on our time.

-- taxpayer (the.fleecing@of.america), June 03, 2000.

This started out as a 'nice' post. Gilda, your explanation of retirement and your advice and wisdom is profound.....So correct to take time and enjoy.

Many days I also ask myself 'whats it all for'? I dont 'need' much.

Gilda, I enjoyed your statement. You go GIRL....... give the birdie some extra seed for me :-)

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

Z1X, I don't much blame you for not liking to fly Alaska Air.

taxpayer, are you suffering from an advanced case of paranoia?

Z1X, you said, "You should see our data from the Mr. Vernon [MO] research station last year." Isn't Mt. Vernon where they have the TB facility, or am I mixed up? Is that the research station? I hope you enjoy tending your garden as much as I do mine, in spite of having little soil and practically no rain.

I used to get to Boone county once in awhile to MU's book sale, but since I'm out of business and into gardening I no longer go.

consumer, thank you for your kind words--I appreciate it. I laughed when I read "give the birdie some extra seed for me," for recently I bought some special feed for blue birds, and scattered it in the grass since they are ground feeders. Later, I saw my dog sniffing out every little morsel and gobbling it up. He can't even sing..

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 03, 2000.

gilda, it isn't paranoia if it is true. In fact, you are the one who brought it to my attention...

"I want to make sure I'm getting my money's worth. Are you sure all this flying around all over the country is really necessary? Are you taking your quiet time on my time?"

Now, should I ask you, are YOU paranoid?

Z is working on some type of agricultural research using government grants and college funding for the University of Missouri, as in taxpayer dollars. You have raised an important point. This guy lives in a 4500 sq. ft. house (a small palace) spends half his time on the Internet goofing around on non-agriculture related forums, and the other half flying all over the place going sightseeing. If we are paying him that much money to goof off, I'd like to see a detailed accounting of what my money is being spent on. My guess is he has some kind of political position of power, therefore very easy to screw the taxpayer with corrupt scams.

-- taxpayer (wasting@our.money), June 03, 2000.

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

-- (zenmaster@satori.koan), June 03, 2000.

Good points taxpayer. I should have added a grin after my statement, cause I wasn't really serious.

Z1X, do you really live in a 4500 square foot house? Gawd how awful. We live in a 2000, I think square foot house, and I can't wait to get out of it and get into our smaller house that we are remodeling. I'm tired of rattlling around in that place. Oh well, to each his own. It's just that as I get older, simplicity, simplicity is my goal.

Z1X, I hope you don't work in any field that helps Monsanto, or the big agri-business coroporations, such as Cargill, etc., who have been instrumental in putting small farmers out of business. Just curious.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 04, 2000.