Surrounded by silence

Photo: Paris, January 25, 2022

There are days where everything feels back to balance. 

You wake up earlier than usual. 

You are surprised by the stillness of your mind. 

It is dark outside. It is cold. 

You notice you are surrounded by silence. 

Instead of getting distracted, you decide, there is nothing to do.

There is no other place you rather be except exactly there: under the covers, surrounded by darkness and silence. 

You start to observe your mind travel. As if you were watching a film. 

You are interested in the characters, the conversations, the discussions. The new ideas and perspectives. 

The occasional sounds of cars outside, remind you that you are awake, that you are present in this moment. 

You feel your whole body is supported by the bed. 

You are relaxed. 

Your mind is at ease, yet active. 

You notice your breath from time to time. 

There is no urge to move, to get distracted with the light or screens or movement. 

This is your morning practice today. 

You know you will hold on to this stillness later in the day when you start your day, with each choice you make, with the pace of your walk or the focus you bring to your work.

As you walk outside, you notice the Eiffel Tower surrounded by clouds, in the same way you were surrounded by silence. 

An ongoing invitation, to watch the clouds outside and the thoughts inside, always inviting curiosity and kindness along for the journey.