Silence...

When are we ever in silence?

In this metropolis that we call London, there never seems to be a moment's silence, urban sounds run throughout our lives, whether it be the cars on the roads, the planes in the sky or the very sound of music and media in our ears and on our minds. Being British I'm sure the very thought of silence immediately equals awkwardness and the imminent urge to fill it with something.

When was the last time you sat in silence?

It seems like an odd action to take, just to sit in silence and think or just enjoy the peace, amongst our everyday lives there is very little time for such a menial thing. Today I was watching an interesting documentary and during the break the player cut out and I was left in silence, the silence was deafening and was almost oppressing, it was then that it hit me.

When was the last time I was in silence?

When was the last time that I enjoyed the silence and didn't fill it with music or mindless ramblings of my thoughts to myself.

I don't enjoy the silence enough, I don't take the time to just sit and listen, to the atmosphere, to the noises of London. 'Cos let's face it, in the urban landscape that is my home it's is an impossibility or at least a complete rarity that there is complete silence-no cars, no chavs, no planes...nothing.

So I guess what challenge I can make, however pathetic it does sound, my challenge is this:

The next time you find yourself in silence or a quiet place, don't reach for the mp3 player in your pocket, or the remote control for the TV, sit and enjoy the peace and quiet and make the most of it.

I know I need to.