Peace and quiet is all about the noise in your head
<i>In a remote and quiet place, Vikman says, she discovers thoughts and feelings that aren’t audible in her busy daily life. “If you want to know yourself you have to be with yourself, and discuss with yourself, be able to talk with yourself.”</i><p>I was a homemaker for years. A lot of housework is fairly mindless, allowing for uninterrupted deep thought because most folks will not bother you while you are doing laundry. They don&#x27;t want to be asked to help.<p>I have spent years cultivating a relatively quiet life by American standards. Since my ex moved out, I mostly have not had a TV. I gave up my car years ago, giving up its built in radio along with it. In my household, it is a common courtesy to announce &quot;I am starting up a video (or game) with voices.&quot; so as to not startle anyone.<p>People complain a lot about the stress of our 24&#x2F;7 always on lives in the US. They often lay the blame on computers, smart phones, email notifications and social media. I have a smart phone and computers. I don&#x27;t feel harried and interrupted and like I can&#x27;t get a break.<p>My life was quiet before sleeping in a tent for nearly 6 years, but doing that deepened the quiet. I am prone to ear infections. I can&#x27;t wear headphones because of it. My days were spent in a library. My nights were spent trying to be quiet enough to go unnoticed and not have the cops called on me. Games were often played with the sound off.<p>Peace and quiet is necessary to be able to hear yourself think. I think the degree to which constant noise interferes with deep contemplation and self reflection goes largely unrecognized.<p>A lot of people could probably skip therapy entirely if they could just arrange to hear themselves think. But I think many people are intentionally avoiding that because the constant flak of noise obscuring their thoughts and feelings is critical to their ability to stay in a relationship that doesn&#x27;t work or at a job they actually hate.<p>Hearing their own opinions about their own lives would likely compel many of them to make hard decisions and big changes and they would rather not know. That&#x27;s scary. It&#x27;s overwhelming. The noise that enables remaining stuck is like an anaesthetic.