Often youth demands a constant stream of entertainment. This absorption of stimulus is understandable as the brain is busy generating needy neurons. Whether we currently have too much involuntary buzz about us, or if in year’s back, as a result of not having enough, we created our own seeds of thought and challenge, the demand for critical and creative thinking goes on, only requiring a selective avoidance of the persistent chatter of our world today.
But that was then. And then, strange as it may seem, we had no internet, TV, phone, or radio. We did play record albums, read books, take walks, and have talks. The winter tied us down in some ways and freed us in others. It was the feeling of not needing to do anything that made what we did do so much more memorable.
Once the bed was dragged out by the wood stove, along with the kitchen table, the other few rooms were blanketed off at the doorways and we hunkered down in a real attempt to stay warm, and plenty alive, sharing time as opposed to passing time. This included plenty of backgammon games, crossword puzzles, and discussions usually bordering on philosophy and politics.
When distractions are minimized, and the face to face interaction is left to the love and creative imagination that we are clearly capable off, we thrive.
Welcome the silence.
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