Sometimes the noise and the crowds in daily life get too much to bear. The incessant demands made, the rush to meet deadlines, the obligatory chores bring on episodes of near insanity, confusion and mental fatigue. Life becomes so contradictory that even words are jumbled, thoughts fragment and melt away like wisps of mist evaporating in the sunlight. It is hard to focus, hard to hold a sensible, logical thought. Nothing makes sense anymore. My mind shuts down.
The blankness slowly dissipates and I find myself in that secret mental space, so dream-like, calm as a blue lake on a remote mountain top or deep in a forest of evergreen willows swaying in a gentle breeze. It is a memory of a quiet blue lake that gently rippled against a shingle shore. So cool, so peacefully calm and silent. There’s no one sitting by the lake, just me. Alone and safe, savoring this wonderful state of sweet solitude. Solitude is my refuge and silence my companion.
This is perhaps, the peace found by Wordsworth’s “Solitary Reaper”, working alone in the wide corn field, sunk deep in her own thoughts without disturbance from any other. I used to walk miles alone, just watching and thinking, seeing the world go by, not touching it or having it touch me. There’s none to judge me and I don’t judge myself. I am at peace with myself.
If I was she in that corn field, toiling silently on my own…there is a sea of ripe wheat all around, there’s much to do before the sun sets and the sea of corn yellow turns to red then grey blue before darkness falls. The sweat of my brow would be worth it, going home to make my bread.
Away, one needs to get away from the madness of the gaggling voices, the strident tones, the mean insinuations and sharp insults. Conspiratorial gossipers who peddle counterfeit truths to all and sundry who will swallow whole every proffered lie believing it as gospel truth.Reveling in their putrid sourness.
By the blue lake, it is peaceful, safe, away from this world of demons. Far from the world where angels weep…sweet solitude, my refuge, my refreshing oasis.
Winking at Life 