‘I am more present as I move, conscious of my breath and of my steps and of the sounds – birds, other dogs, traffic, boats and aircraft, and people.’‘I am more present as I move, conscious of my breath and of my steps and of the sounds – birds, other dogs, traffic, boats and aircraft, and people.’the quietGetting offline, even for a day, requires planning, discipline and, not least, the understanding of others.
Every day I walk. Often many kilometres. Dogs, creatures of habit – and a big part of the current of my emotional heartbeat – demand it. For years I’ve mostly been plugged into the circuit of the Interworld via headphones while we’ve walked.
One of my dogs, perhaps the brightest of the pair, has long pulled on the lead. For years I’ve been muttering “back” or “stop” whenever she did, while wired into my phone while walking, my full concentration elsewhere. She’d desist for a moment and then pull again. I’d all but given up.while walking, and with the introduction of a simple sound shared with me by another familiar dog walker she walks nose to my ankle on a slack lead. Every so often she’ll glance up, and gently exhale.
At home, I stay across the news, though less obsessively, checking in twice a day on radio, TV and online. Who can’t, with the world on a precipice given the war in Ukraine, the rise and rise of mad demagoguery in Russia and its threatened return in the US? But during the day the calming background soundtrack of the house is now classical music. The dogs love it.I think I’ll walk away from them entirely before too long as part of my ongoing pursuit a more pristine quiet.
. People who have experienced trauma may use noise as a distraction. Relaxation is supported by safe environments. Who makes sure that women are safe in the woods? .