Silence

Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm back in Rochacha, preparing to move this weekend and get caught up for school on Monday. While I was out west, I took the opportunity to drive out to the Grand Canyon for the day, as I hadn't been there in 14 years or so. It's a cliche, but I'm going to say it anyway: it takes your breath away to be in the presence of something so beautiful. I ditched my mom and brother at some point because they were cold (it was only in the 30's!) and went out walking along the rim. As the sun started to go down, twilight fell and the silence of the place was incredible. No tourists chattering, no birds calling, just the sound of the night and cold wind touching down on the rocks.

This is something everyone probably realizes the first time they go camping, or just spending some time away from the city. It's another cliche feeling, but sometimes it really is good to just turn the volume to OFF, clear out the static and garbage and just tune into what you're seeing. Even this is a very superficial way of interacting with nature, but it seems to me that it's healthy to, every so often, put yourself in the presence of something much greater. Because it's interesting the way the conversation falls to murmurs, then whispers, and then something bordering on telepathy, the way that movements are carefully measured, and making a sound, even breathing, feels irreverent.

The point is that we all need to find ways to center ourselves, take care of ourselves so that we can keep making pretty pictures. :]