The Power of Stillness: Making Connections that Matter

In a world that never seems to stop, where the hustle and bustle of daily life can feel overwhelming, there is something almost rebellious about embracing stillness.

The truth is, I've always found peace in constant activity.

From knitting and gaming to playing the piano and gardening, I've filled my life with a whirlwind of tasks and distractions, often several at once. It's a lifestyle that my friends and colleagues find amusing. They know that I need a whirlwind of activity to feel engaged and on track.

It's my way of ensuring my mind doesn't wander off during a conversation and that I don't have to deal with all the other things going off in my head!

Amid this whirlwind that is me, there's one friend who sees right through the facade. This friend, unlike most people, hasn't only gotten to know the top layers of my enigmatic self. They've delved deep, recognising when I'm using this perpetual motion as a way to avoid addressing deeper issues. They know, because they do the same.

A few weeks ago, during a text conversation, they challenged me. I had been lamenting my boredom, feeling adrift with a long evening stretching out before me and not wanting to do one of the million things that were available to me.

My friend let me vent and then gently suggested something I had been avoiding: to sit still and do nothing. To allow the silence to wash over me and, in those moments, process everything that had been happening in my life. I admit, my initial response was less than enthusiastic. I replied with a rather rude phrase in jest that implied they should go away... and then got on with my evening. Going shopping, visiting with my sister and her family, watching a quiz show and going to bed.

Unbeknownst to me, my response had worried my friend, and of course, the fact I was then offline all evening only compounded their fears. They thought they had annoyed and upset me, and my subsequent silence that evening only deepened their worry.

They sent me a message expressing this concern, which I read the following morning and immediately replied:

"You're not annoying, and you haven't upset me. You just speak the truth, and I can't be doing with that today. Lie to me!"

My friend responded with laughter but stuck to their suggestion: "Stop; You need to sit, be still, and process."

"Stop" my friend said. "You need to sit, be still, and process."

As I absorbed this advice, my friend shared anecdotes from colleagues of theirs, that were formed colleagues of mine. One colleague described how much they loved and missed seeing me and my smile. Another person, upon hearing a greeting from me, responded with a wide, heartwarming smile. Another shared how they walked home a different way, hoping to bump into me. Another laughed about the funny deliveries that still arrived from me. The stories resonated deeply within me.

Then my friend, with a tenderness I wasn't expecting, made me cry.

It wasn't their intention, but their words struck my heart like a gentle whisper. They said, "This is your superpower. Your ability to make people feel comfortable around you, to feel loved by you. You are a good person."

Work that day, primarily involved looking at one of my two computer monitors for hours with no human interaction and this meant the weight of my friend's words lingered. I listened to classical music to maintain my focus and as I did I found myself reflecting on the significance of connecting with people on a deeper level, of being fully present in their lives.

In a world filled with superficial interactions, these genuine connections are a rare treasure. It's the depth of the relationship, not the quantity of interactions, that counts. Being present in the moment, truly listening, and showing kindness— these are the hallmarks of meaningful connections.

In the relentless rush of daily life, it's easy to forget the importance of stillness and genuine connection. We're in constant competition with the clock, striving to multitask and achieve more. However, within those quiet moments of stillness, we find clarity and renewal. We also discover our worth and our profound capacity to touch the hearts of others.

The power of stillness, I realised, is often the key to making connections that truly matter. In those moments, we remember who we are and what we stand for. And then, we use that self-awareness to create meaningful, authentic connections with those around us.

And so in addition to my daily meditation, I'm trying to stop and to sit and be still. I'm attempting to process what is going on in my life, what is going on around me and to work out how I can best push forward.

I'm not very good at it, but I know that I'll get there.

In a world filled with noise, in the midst of life's relentless hustle and bustle, let's cherish the magic of stillness and the depth of connections it can bring. Embracing the magic of stillness is a reminder of who we are and what truly matters.

Just as I strive to find moments of quiet reflection, I encourage you to explore the depths of stillness in your own life. Consider how it can help you nurture more profound, authentic connections with those around you. As we continue in this noisy world, let's treasure the beauty of stillness and the meaningful connections it can bring. Together, we can find clarity and renewal, embracing the serenity within.