Disconnect to Reconnect

Soon, my wife and I are stepping away from our busy lives to experience one of my bucket list items: a silent retreat. As the day approaches, I find myself both excited at the opportunity for extended stillness, and apprehensive at what this may bring up.

In our digital world, stillness is rare, replaced by glowing screens and notifications constantly pulling at our attention. Beneath all this noise, there’s a quiet longing for moments of clarity and peace. Could briefly stepping away reconnect me with something deeper, something I have not yet uncovered?

The retreat promises a complete break from technology: no phones, laptops or WiFi. Just me, my thoughts, and nature. It’s an intentional detox from stimulation, an opportunity to simply exist.

I find myself constantly navigating the tension between stillness and motion, of wanting to just be, and become. Embracing silence can feel uncomfortable in a culture that equates constant bustle with productivity. Yet I’ve learned that stillness isn’t passive - it’s an active practice, a space to genuinely listen to ourselves and the subtle rhythms around us. This pause often holds the potential for clarity, creativity and insight that our daily busyness tends to overshadow.

So while I am fully immersing myself in stillness this week, dear reader, I invite you to consider your own relationship with silence. When was your last moment of quiet reflection? This week, why not carve out your own brief interlude: a peaceful walk, a screen-free afternoon, or a few minutes of meditation?

Until next time,

Ric.

P.S. I'll be taking a brief break from writing while at the retreat, but I'll be back the following week with fresh reflections.