I have always been a late bloomer in life. I am not first to embrace new things, I am usually drug kicking and screaming into assimilation. Then when I am forced to experience the ‘new thing’, more often than not, I like it and regret not being more open to begin with. This is the story of my predictable, scheduled life.

Since the majority of my workday is on the phone listening to complaints, I covet the non-working, silent moments of life. Even my daily walks used to be in silence; just me in my head. I enjoy the quiet time to process the day, my thoughts, and pray.  

Until…

I don’t even know how long podcasts have been around. I had listened to a few in the past, mostly on long car rides, but they were few and far between. I hadn’t ever incorporated them into my ‘exciting’ daily life routine.   This all changed when I found the podcaster of my dreams.  Suddenly I became a groupie. I listen every day. I even started taking pre-work morning walks, so I had more time to listen to my ‘new best friend’.  My new daily, some may call, ‘addiction’ has been a very good influence on me. I am becoming more educated and better connected to current events and the law. My mind is expanding and I am hooked.  Added bonus, my new hobby pairs perfectly with exercise, and thus my daily walking distance has almost doubled.

But there was one significant casualty with this new hobby.  My coveted silence has now been on the back burner. I have foregone the quiet that once felt so refreshing.  My time of processing, self-reflection, solitude and prayer had been filled with noise. Noise that I like, but noise nonetheless.

It wasn’t until this afternoon, when my podcast ended, and my kitchen chore had not, that I purposefully continued doing the dishes in silence; just like old times.  I got reacquainted with my love of silence, and during this reunion, the idea of this blog post took root.  I became inspired by my noise-free time.

I

Miss

This

For my mamas wadding through waters of grief, life can feel more like drowning than floating. It is times like these; it is nice to put ear buds in, and ride the noise train.  If you can focus on something else, maybe this heartache will subside?  Trust me mamas, this escape is only temporary. Our heartache won’t cease submerged in noise.

What am I learning from the teeter-totter of life? I get the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else, and I also get to choose my priorities for each day. I can have silence and still be a podcast groupie.  I just have to find my balance in the rough waters of life.

Mamas, what is your noisemaker? Has it become a distraction?