The Search for Silence

The world seems to be getting noisier. Our everyday is full of a plethora of devices notifying us of Every. Single. Thing—the weather, the news, texts, someone’s comment on a variety of social media sites. The television has programs 24-hours a day, and the available shows are endless—just to make sure we don’t suffer from FOMO, otherwise known as Fear of Missing Out. 

Although who are we kidding? The challenge is trying to miss out. Sometimes you can't even do it if you try. 

It may feel as if we never unplug, or are fully “Off.” Some of us can’t seem to shut it out, or don’t want to.

Refuse that Busy Badge

Many wear this connection and brag about constantly being busy as if it were a badge, as if trying to ‘unplug’ from the noise and just enjoy the moment, or be, is being selfish. 

Perhaps it stems from sending children for quiet time as if doing nothing is deemed to be some type of punishment. (One of many ‘childhood seeming punishments’ that some of us adults would enjoy today such as naptime, recess, and someone to do our laundry…oh wait, I guess that last one doesn’t quite fit there.)

All of this ongoing ‘noise’ and chaos in our environment can clutter our minds, and make it difficult to stop and just listen to the quiet, to our thoughts, to our characters.

Find Your Focus

Sometimes even if we shut out all the noise of our external world, we remain tuned into our internal thoughts. That to-do list that won’t quit churning through our mind, or the worry about something from yesterday or tomorrow leaves us unable to focus... unable to relax and sort through our jumbled thoughts vying for attention like they're trying to order a drink at the Last Call before the end of happy hour.

As a writer, often I realize that I need to write to calm the stressors of the everyday world and focus. To escape into a little fantasy or the magic underlying the reality of my story. Although at times the characters either ramble on in my mind, with their eagerness to share their story, or they remain stubbornly silent—causing me more worry.

Seek Silence in a Story

Reading an engaging story can provide that silence. Forcing you to focus on one thing—the story. If attention wanes and you lose your focus on the words on the page, then you don’t know what’s happened in the story. It’s one of the few places where you just can’t multi-task or you'll suffer from FOMO—of the story.

This year has been a particularly busy one for me and multi-tasking has become my mantra. Although the pace can be draining. That’s why I’ve made an effort to fit in more time for reading. There I find my silence, my peace.

Do You Suffer from FOMO?

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter

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