It’s hard to believe that my Mindful Hiking Days are all done for the year! A huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in a hike this year. It has been such a joy to meet and connect with such enthusiastic, adventurous, kind hearted and interesting women!
Reflecting on this year’s Mindful Hiking Days (twelve hikes went ahead with three cancelled due to bad weather), one aspect of the hikes that people seem to particularly enjoy is the period of silent walking. Having enjoyed a number of short mindfulness exercises before lunch we walk in silence for around 30-40 minutes after lunch. With so few opportunities for silence in our busy lives these days it is perhaps not surprising that this particular aspect of the hikes is so popular.
Spending time in silence can, however, be a little daunting at first. We are so accustomed to the almost constant onslaught of noise in our busy lives, that silence can initially feel a bit awkward or uncomfortable. When we are alone many of us have a tendency to fill silence with something, whether it be music, television, radio etc. And when we’re in the company of others we usually feel the need to fill silence by talking.
When we are constantly bombarded with external stimuli we can stay distracted and more easily keep unwanted or uncomfortable feelings at bay. We might feel sad that something in our life hasn’t turned out quite as we’d hoped; or we might feel lonely, misunderstood or unfulfilled. When we experience silence, uncomfortable feelings such as these are free to come more clearly into our awareness. While this might sound undesirable, it gives us the opportunity to address what is really going on for us beneath the surface.
It is also in silence that we make room for wonder and awe. A true appreciation of the extraordinary beauty in the world becomes more accessible in silence. In the words of Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh:
“the basic condition for us to be able to hear the call of beauty and respond to it is silence”.
Silence enjoyed mindfully, whether alone or in the company of others, can be incredibly joyful and healing.
How does silence make you feel? Here a few suggested ways of to gently welcome a little more silence into your life:
1. When you arrive home notice whether you automatically reach to turn the tv or radio on. See if you can spend a little time, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes, in silence, before doing so.
2. If you regularly walk (or enjoy some other activity) with a friend, try walking together in silence for a short period of time. It might feel a bit strange at first but when you get used to it, walking in companionable silence can actually bring you closer (I suggest making this suggestion to a friend you think would be open to it!).
3. Join a Mindful Meander or a Meditation & Relaxation Class this December (with all proceeds going to charity) – more details here.
