Friday, April 19, 2013

Q is for Quiet

Happy Friday!

Today we've arrived at what I think is one of the hardest letters, Q. Last year, when my topic was My Favorite Things, I wrote about quiet and how much I enjoy—and need—quiet time to myself. As I searched for a Q-word to go with this year's theme, Things That Inspire Me, I realized that "quiet" fits once again.

Quiet inspires me. I like to write when I'm alone, when no one is around me, somewhere there's no background noise to interfere with my thoughts. Oh, occasionally I'll jot down a note or two—a line of poetry, perhaps—when I'm out with others, but otherwise, quiet is a key component of my writing life. It inspires me to write.

Today's video inspiration isn't about being quiet as much as it's about being alone. I posted it once before—almost exactly a year ago—and because I love it so much, I've been waiting for the opportunity to post it again. It's a poem called "How To Be Alone," written and performed by poet/singer/songwriter Tanya Davis and directed and animated by filmmaker Andrea Dorfman. It's an inspiring piece that shows why being alone—even in public—is a great thing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.



My daily haiku is now up at the Pulitzer Remix site. You can find it here. I'm grateful for those of you who have been reading and commenting on my work this month. Thank you for your support!


Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing Friday. ☺

70 comments:

  1. Nice post! Co-incidentally my topic for Q is Quiet too and I love you approach towards it :)

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    1. Thanks! I'm heading over to your post now. :)

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  2. I've read that extroverts crave action while introverts crave solitude, not all the time, but as the source that restores them. I wonder if that's true?

    Great video. I enjoyed the many points you made about not seeing alone-ness as a bad thing by default.

    Nice to meet you on the A to Z!

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    1. That seems true for me and my husband. I'm an introvert and love my alone time. He's an extrovert and loves being out doing things with others.

      I'm glad you liked the video. I really enjoy their work. :)

      Thanks for the follow. I'm heading over to your blog now.

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  3. I cried watching this video. It is beautiful, true, and freeing. So glad you shared.

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    1. It is all those things, isn't it? I'm glad you liked it.

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  4. The video is really nice.. Once in a while I should get some quite time for like 30 minutes or so.:) thanks for sharing Dana:)

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    1. You should. It's so important to have alone time. I'm a much better person when I get some time to myself. :)

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  5. O & Q gave me a problem but I managed to come up with the goods.

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  6. I love writing when it's quiet. I can hear all the voices in my head!

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    1. Haha! Glad I'm not the only one hearing those voices. ;)

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  7. I've gotten better and better at writing in the fray, but there are still some noises that I can't block out (like the sound of chewing).

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    1. Ugh. Isn't that a gross sound? I need to get better about blocking sounds out.

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  8. I really love this video...my favorite all week. I'm glad you chose inspiration as your theme for this challenge.

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    1. Her voice is calming, too—perfect for spoken-word poetry. :)

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    2. Hey, I came back to say I have been following your Haiku site I havent been commenting though because I cant really remember the book all that well...I read it ages ago. But I love Haiku! and yours are great...I like that you played with spacing on the deer one! very cool!

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    3. Thank you so much! My haiku are found poetry. I take bits and pieces of Updike's book and remix them into something completely different. As a result, they're as far removed from his text as they can be. I appreciate your reading them!

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  10. A turtle? I guess you have made my day!!!!

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  11. This is beautiful, soothing, and comforting. Thank you for sharing it.

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  12. Dana ur posts r ever interesting soothing the tired mind..in today's busy city life we have to hope for 'quiet'...I enjoyed the video it was worthwhile..Smiles:))God<3u

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    1. That's very sweet of you to say. I'm glad you liked the video. ☺

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  13. Messy Mimi has quiet as her word today also! It is a mighty fine word...now off to your haiku! Have a lovely day!

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  14. I think you're right. Quiet allows you brain to slow, relax, and sometimes wander. I've been trying to find some quiet and force my brain to work in order to continue with finishing up my WIP. Sometimes I get a word in, sometimes a whole paragraph. But mostly, with the daily stress that is my life, things have been too "noisy" for me to work. Here's hoping for "quiet" so the voices can rage once again! :D

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
    http://writebackwards.we3dements.com

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  15. Quiet is one of my favorite words. I love time to myself. I made a cave for my son and he's napping in it right now. Aaah, quiet time. :)

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    1. What a great idea! I should try that with my daughter. :)

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  16. A few moments of Quality Quiet time is restorative and inspiring. We all need that within and without, however, when my without is quiet, my within is buzzing and visa versa. I hope it stays that way. That's the difference between Peace and Quiet and Just Quiet! Does that make sense? Sometimes I don't...like a turtle on it's back! lol...cool haiku!

    My Letter 'Q'...Quilt Question #1
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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  17. oh the older i get the more i appreciate quiet---it is so soothing to sit in silence at least for a bit :)

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    1. So true. I believe my quiet time helps keep me sane. :)

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  18. Practice basically consumes up my life and thats why I like quiet time too every now and then :)

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    1. Yes, I think we all need time to ourselves to recharge.

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  19. I too love the quiet. I can't think ~ can't let me mind just wander when the kids and dog are running around. Have a great weekend. I can't believe we are already on Q. :)

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    1. Yes, it's hard to believe that we're almost there!

      I agree: it's hard to think when other people are around.

      Have a great weekend!

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  20. I function better in an atmosphere where I can control the element of noise and quiet. Since I don't have control over places being super quiet while writing or working, I tend to put the ear buds in and rock out to music. This will get me in my writing/working zone, therefore what is noisy around me becomes quiet, controlled by me not the environment. Does that make sense?

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    1. It makes perfect sense. :) I wish it worked that way for me. I can listen to music before I write—for inspiration or to get me fired up—but it distracts me if I listen while I'm writing.

      Happy Friday. ☺

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  21. Another great post! I love my alone time and really miss it at times. I sometimes got to my craft room in the garage to catch a little alone time. Enjoying your haiku's also.
    until next time...nel

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    1. Thank you for both, Nel. I hope you have a great weekend. ☺

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  22. I have always loved the quiet.

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  23. I prefer quiet and solitude than loud companions.

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  24. I go on silent retreats for a variety of reasons, but one is to create new glass designs. Enjoy your next quiet time.

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    1. I think spending time in peace and quiet is the best thing we can do for our creativity.

      Thanks. Enjoy your quiet time, too. :)

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  25. I never thought about that before. Sometimes I think that the noise is annoying when I'm trying to be productive, but I never realized that the quiet is inspiring. Not until this post, anyways.

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    1. Well, I find it inspiring. My best ideas come when it's quiet. Others might find a noisy environment to be more inspiring for them. I know a lot of writers who like to write in coffee shops for that reason. To each his own. :)

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  26. Dana, I love going to the movies alone, but I have yet to go solo to a nice restaurant. Nice video and I love your haiku about the turtle in the pond!

    Chontali Kirk
    chontalikirk.blogspot.com

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    1. I've gone to Applebees alone. That was in New York City, so I don't think anyone even noticed!

      About my haiku: thank you so much!

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  27. Appreciate the post and video.. Thank you

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    1. You're welcome, Joe. Thanks for stopping by. ☺

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  28. After years of working nights, I still keep vampire hours even though I'm retired. The best time to think and write are the hours from midnight to 6 am. The whole world is asleep, peaceful and quiet. The tranquility is wonderful, and it's far easier to concentrate.
    Great post! :-)

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    1. I completely agree! Right now, I get up early to write and go to bed late (after writing), but someday, I can see myself working during the night. Ah, the peace!

      Thanks, Lexa.

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  29. I've always liked noise -- I can run the tv all day long and never watch it. But sometimes I love the quiet - like when we go to the lake, I prefer the quiet to searching for a radio station.

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    1. Yes, I can find a lot of inspiration in nature when I just sit and listen to the peace (if that makes any sense...).

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  30. I love quiet - it was my Q post too! I enjoy being alone, except in social settings. For example, I've done the lunch counter, but I think a fancy restaurant would be too much for me. But anywhere in nature, or with a book or my laptop I never really feel alone.

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    1. Same with me. I think I could go to a fancy restaurant alone if I had a book to read or a notebook to write in. Of course, I'm not sure that would be appropriate if the restaurant truly was "fancy." :)

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  31. I have to have my alone time. I find it very healthy to have those moments of quite and aloneness. It's when I am my most productive. My girlfriend is very understanding of this...we both allow each other our "me days".

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    1. "Healthy" is a good word. I agree, quiet time is necessary. How wonderful that you allow each other "me days." They're important.

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  32. I definitely need my alone time! That's when I take the time to gather my thoughts and sort of piece it all together. I cannot do that when I am constantly surrounded. Great choice for Q!

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    1. Exactly. I'm no good to anyone else if I don't get some peace. :)

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  33. I'm not a big country fan either, but that is a great song.

    Just don't like the twangy stuff.

    I'm pretty good at being alone, since I spend a lot of time by myself in the car driving town to town.

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    1. I agree: I'm not a fan of the twang, either.

      I like being alone. It recharges me. :)

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